Celtic boss Neil Lennon will be thinking long and hard about his team selection for the Hoops’ upcoming match against Livingston on Sunday lunchtime.
He has a decision to make following the 2-0 win over Cluj in the Europa League. That is, how many changes should he make to that starting line-up when picking the team to face Livingston?
There could well be a chance for some fringe players to shine. Former Celtic great Davie Hay hopes that the fringe players, if selected, take their opportunity to shine, as they may not get many more chances.
“Absolutely desperate to play”
“The players he (Neil Lennon) has waiting to come in are all absolutely desperate to play” Hay said, writing in the Evening Times.
“The hunger they have to prove they are worthy of a starting place in the team should ensure that they are right up for it, because they know if they don’t seize their chance then they may have to wait a good while for another one.”
The game could provide a rare start to the likes of Lewis Morgan, Vakoun Issouf Bayo or Tom Rogic.
At the moment none of those players can be considered first choices for the team. They are not likely to make the starting lime-up on a regular basis.
Fringe players must make most of chances
That is why, as Hay identifies, they must take the chance when it comes. Should any fringe player come in and be a star performer against Livingston, then they could have a chance of starting for the Hoops on a more regular basis.
Neil Lennon will not want to make too many changes for the game, as he will not want to disrupt a winning team. However, tiredness from the Cluj game could also have an impact on the team selected.
Hopefully any of the fringe players selected for the Hoops make the most of their chances, and give Neil Lennon a dilemma he will be happy to have.
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