When Celtic boss Martin O'Neill finally gets a pool of players free of Injury and suspension he will be left with a selection headache that most managers would kill for. Up until now he has been able to utilise all of his big name players due to a combination of Injury and suspension. He has also been able to use striker Chris Sutton in his former defensive role and at the same time bring six million pound striker Hartson into the equation. These two players present the biggest problem of all for O'Neill. Does he go for the goals of Hartson or the guile and presence of Sutton?
To his credit the big Welshman has delivered the goals he promised, and with 18 under his belt already this season he has firmly laid out his claim to be an automatic selection. Sutton, on the other hand, has not been so prolific in the goal – scoring department but he does bring other qualities to the team that are perhaps lacking in Hartson.
Sutton's ability to hold and turn with the ball is second to none and he does seem to bring a more “balanced” shape to the strike force and his partnership with Henrik Larsson is certainly a potent one.
Indeed, Sutton's presence was sorely missed in the recent CIS cup semi final defeat to Rangers and when he finally appeared as a sub late in the game Celtic did seem far more fluid up front.
You can't argue with goals though and Hartson has certainly delivered in his short time at the club. Some fans would still say, though, that Hartson hasn't delivered in the big games against the likes of Rangers or in the Champions League. In his defence, though, Hartson was no way near fully fit during the Champions League games and it is only now that he is approaching full fitness, and this has shown in his recent play where not only is he scoring but he is creating as well.
Whatever Martin O'Neill decides to do someone is going to be unhappy. It will be difficult to accommodate both players in the side, especially away from home, and it would appear that someone will be spending a lengthy period on the bench.
For what it's worth I think O'Neill will side with Sutton. I think the big Englishman brings far more variation to the attack, a quality that is needed badly against the packed defences that Celtic face most weeks.