Why does Sutton have 'great concerns' about Celtic?

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton has "great concerns" for Martin O'Neill's side after Rangers "ran all over" them in Sunday's chastening derby defeat. Sutton pinpoints Celtic's "lightweight" midfield as the root of their problems, with Belgium international Arne Engels a glaring loss since his summer exit to West Ham. After being knocked out of the League Cup quarter-finals by their Glasgow rivals, Celtic begin their Europa League camapign at home to Ferencvaros on Thursday before hosting Rangers on Premiership duty three days later. Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live's Monday Night Club , Sutton said: "I think that was a hugely significant win for Derek McInnes. "Rangers needed a statement victory. There was a lot of talk going into the game about which manager was under most pressure. "But the way he set his team up – left-back James Penrice played an inverted role in midfield and Derek's teams over the years, he likes to go man for man - they ran all over Celtic. Physically, they were far, far superior. "I have great concerns about Celtic. I've said this since the start of the season – Celtic's midfield is lightweight. Talented but lightweight. "They can't run, they don't have the legs. [Callum] McGregor has been a brilliant player. [Benjamin] Nygren has a brilliant instinct for goals but can't run. They've brought in [Mika] Baur from Germany and they just got outpowered. Rangers were far more robust and ran all over them. "Celtic have big issues. The other big test they've had this season – away to LASK in the Champions League was a disastrous performance where, guess what, they got ran all over in midfield. "They haven't replaced Engels like for like for profile. So they don't have that legs, energy, someone who can cover the ground in midfield. It's okay being a good footballer. Celtic have a midfield who are good at five-a-sides – but the game is played on a big pitch. You have to be able to cover the ground and compete. "It just feels like Celtic, the way the club is run, just want to do enough, just finish ahead of Rangers and Hearts." Sutton was bemused by O'Neill's decision to start Sebastian Tounekti - who was hooked at half-time - rather than Haissem Hassan at Ibrox. "I didn't agree with the Celtic starting line-up," he said. "I haven't seen anybody able to handle Hassan's dribbling ability but he was on the bench. I thought that handed Rangers a massive initiative and Celtic were never really in the game. "They've got the Europa League this week and Rangers, with no Europe, are in a pretty good position. This may all change at the weekend if Rangers go under at Celtic Park, but the lift the Rangers players got from that performance does feel significant. It's up to Celtic to respond. "The problem O'Neill has is, what can he change? Celtic have been flat-track bullies this season – beating teams you expect them to beat – but in the big tests they have come up well short. "O'Neill was on record about the need to replace Engels, that profile of player, but they haven't done that. It is taking a risk." [BBC]