Ex-Celtic striker Chris Sutton says the failure to re-sign Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster in the summer has proven pivotal in the Hoops’ faltering campaign.

The Hoops were unable to convince the 32-year-old to return for a second season-long loan, with the Englishman preferring to stay on the South coast, and Sutton is lamenting the keeper’s decision to turn his back on the club:

“Missing out on Fraser Forster has been key to the season. The big Geordie came up with the big moments. He made the vital stops. That gave the backline a confidence which they don’t have this season. It’s no coincidence the backline is brittle with no reassurance at their backs.”

Sutton is also very pessimistic about Celtic’s chances of signing Forster in January despite the shot-stopper being the understudy to Alex McCarthy at Southampton. However, due to his lack of game time for the Premier League club, the player is likely to be more open to going out on loan once again.

Forster has not played a single minute for the Saints, not even in cup competitions, so you would have thought he’d be keen to leave. Whether some Hoops fans would be open to the move, though, considering his previous snub, that’s another matter.