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Celtic manager Ronny Deila must play Kris Commons despite new fitness rules, insists Andy Walker

A new regime should not rule out the proven goal-scorer

Celtic's Kris Commons celebrates his goal from the penalty spot during the Scottish League Cup Third Round match at Celtic Park, Glasgow.
Image: Celtic should be built around Kris Commons, says Andy Walker

Andy Walker believes Kris Commons must be Celtic’s focal point even if he doesn’t measure up to manager Ronny Deila’s fitness demands.

Commons and club captain Scott Brown have been victims of the stricter diet and fitness plan that Deila has implemented despite their impressive history at the club.

Until you get someone who is fitter, stronger and faster than Kris Commons, I think you play him.
Andy Walker

But former Celtic striker Walker believes that reintroducing Commons - starting with the Europa League fixture against Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday night - would be the ideal way for Deila to endear himself to a sceptical fan-base.

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Manager Ronny Deila believes Celtic can start to make much more progress under him - now that his players have had time to adapt to his ideas

He told Sky Sports News HQ: “This is a new manager who has come in and made controversial decisions. Leaving out the likes of Scott Brown, his captain, and maybe more importantly, Kris Commons – Scotland’s Player of the Year last year with 30 goals.

“I think his percentage of body fat is too high and Ronny Deila talks about this fitness regime that he wants to bring in to try and compete with the best teams in Europe.

"That’s all very well but I think you take it one step at a time and until you get someone who is fitter, stronger and faster than Kris Commons, I think you play him.

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After admitting some playes are tired, Ronny Deila's Celtic have a tough test in the form of Dinamo Zagreb

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“He’s got imagination, he’s the one that links the play from the front. He scores goals, he sets up goals. I would be building the team around Kris Commons, I would be saying to him ‘you are the player that can make us tick’.

“Put extra responsibility on him. I think he’s at a stage in his career where he would relish that type of opportunity and that type of scrutiny on his play.”

Walker concluded that the criticism faced by Deila is all part of the job.

“It is absolutely inevitable that he comes under intense scrutiny as a Celtic manager. I think it all stems from the way Celtic play.”

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