Chris Sutton explains only Celtic absence after son 'died' before being brought back as he hails Luis Diaz's character

Chris Sutton has hailed Luis Diaz's strength of character after the Liverpool forward played and scored despite his father being kidnapped in Colombia.

Negotiations are ongoing to free the wide man's dad after he ad Diaz's mother were abducted by guerilla insurgency group ELN. Mum was rescued hours later but Luis Emanuel is still being held. While an emotional Diaz revealed a message of support for his father after a late equaliser away to Luton, Sutton acknowledged how hard the situation must be and how getting out on the pitch will be helping Diaz cope.

And the Record Sport columnist revealed that the only Celtic game he missed was due to a family emergency of his own. Son James was rushed to hospital after choking while `sutton was Euro dutry with the Hoops in Valencia. His initial reassurances to his wife were ignored, and luckily so after Sutton Jnr was swiftly treated by doctors and on life support for several days before pulling through and making a full recovery.

"I think it's a massive strength of character, as much as anything. He might actually see going out and training and playing as a bit of escapism to try and take his mind off,' Sutton explained on the It's All Kicking Off podcast.

"From my own experience, I think there was only ever once where I missed a game and that was when my son James, who was premature... we nearly lost him.

"When I'd actually flown out to Valencia to play in a game for Celtic in the UEFA Cup. He was 28 weeks, he was a tiny baby.

"We had him and he was in hospital for eight weeks, so that his organs could grow and so he could breathe properly. Anyway, he came out and we, as a family got back to normal.

"Couple of weeks later, I'd flown out to play in Valencia and my wife was