Frank McAvennie has defended Cameron Carter-Vickers' right to publicly question Celtic's tactical approach. The former Hoops striker believes players should be allowed to speak out if the coaching they receive is not good enough.

McAvennie made his comments on the Let Me Be Frank Podcast. He directly addressed the defender's recent description of the team's play as "a bit too random" following last month's 1-0 Old Firm defeat to Rangers at Parkhead.

"I think players are entitled to say what they want," Frank McAvennie said. "If the coaching is terrible, the coaching is terrible."

He went further, suggesting the responsibility lies with the coaching staff rather than manager Martin O'Neill. "I guarantee the coaching is nothing to do with Martin, the coaching is done by Shaun and Fozzy," McAvennie stated, referring to assistants Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham. The former striker argued that Carter-Vickers' critique was not a personal attack but an assessment of the team's structure.

Carter-Vickers' critique

Cameron Carter-Vickers made his remarks after the Parkhead loss, a result that came seven days after a 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final defeat at Ibrox. The 28-year-old USA international called for the team to "get a script and stick to it." His comments drew criticism from another Celtic hero, Alan Stubbs, who labelled them "cheap shots." O'Neill himself later stated he disagreed with the defender's version of events.

McAvennie's defence provides a different perspective within the Celtic family. The debate comes as the team sits first in the Premiership with 21 points from eight games, holding a two-point lead over Rangers.

Current context and squad

The discussion unfolds with Carter-Vickers currently sidelined. He missed the recent 2-0 win at Motherwell due to a calf strain. In that match, C. Durán and Benjamin Nygren found the net, with Kasper Høgh providing an assist. McAvennie also commented on Høgh's form, attributing the forward's goal drought to a lack of confidence and service from wide areas.

McAvennie further questioned team selection, noting his surprise that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remained on the bench for the last two matches. The former Liverpool midfielder, a Premier League and Champions League winner, joined as a free agent in February. Fans can check the latest available squad information.

Celtic's form has been mixed, with two wins and three defeats in their last five outings. The team will be looking to build on their strong league position and address the tactical questions raised from within when they host Heart of Midlothian at Celtic Park this Saturday, with kick-off at 15:00. The full schedule is on our fixtures page.

Read the full report at Daily Record Football