Ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton believes Ismaila Soro should not be dropped by manager Neil Lennon for today’s Scottish Cup final against Hearts.

There has been speculation that captain Scott Brown could take the Ivorian’s place in the side for the game at Hampden Park but Sutton feels the 22-year-old has done more than enough to stay in the lineup:

“Ismaila Soro has gone into his position and played superbly. He has been a real tiger in the middle of the park, he sees danger, he snuffs it out and passes the ball crisply. Soro has done nothing to be dropped. I don’t think it would be fair to do so. Neil might prefer big-game experience on the day and go for Brown but it’s not the choice I’d make.”

Soro has been excellent in the last two games against Lille and Kilmarnock and, as Sutton points out, he has been brilliant at sweeping up in midfield and starting attacks.

Whether ‘big-game experience’ will come into Lennon’s thinking when deciding team selection, we shall have to wait and see but, on the basis of current form, there is no doubt that Soro deserves another opportunity to perform.

Lennon says sentimentality won’t play any part in his decision making for who will start the final so Brown may have to settle for a place on the bench if he is true to his word.