Chris Sutton believes Jordan Lotomba should not become the fall guy for Celtic’s recruitment problems after a difficult first start against Beşiktaş.

Martin O’Neill’s team selection raised plenty of eyebrows on Thursday night.

James Forrest, Sebastian Tounekti and Kasper Høgh started in attack, while Lotomba was handed his first start at right-back, with Colby Donovan among the substitutes. Celtic’s made five changes from the side beaten at Falkirk.

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It was a demanding introduction for a defender short of regular football, and his challenge on Ernest Poku conceded the penalty that led to Beşiktaş’s opener.

Sam Johnstone saved Junior Olaitan’s spot-kick, but the visiting midfielder converted the rebound. Lotomba then went on a driving run from his own half as he tried to make something happen going forward.

Sutton accepts it was a difficult evening, but believes the circumstances deserve consideration.

Writing in his Daily Record column, he said:

“I actually had some sympathy for the full-back. He’s clearly not fully up to speed, having arrived looking like he’d been on a three-month all-inclusive holiday over the summer.

“It’s a tough first start, against a team like Besiktas and being asked to do a job on a guy like Leandro Trossard. I thought Arsenal were daft to let him go and he showed his quality the other night.

“He’s not the one to blame for the malfunctioning transfer setup that saw him arrive in the final days of the window.”

The penalty was a mistake. There was contact, and Lotomba gave the referee a decision to make.

Celtic recruited him late in the window, and he has had limited opportunities since arriving. Asking him to step into a major European game under those circumstances was always going to carry a risk.

It was a strange decision to just throw him in, but it didn’t cost Celtic anything in the end. They came back to secure a 3-2 win and their first points of the campaign.