Lewis Morgan could end up an unlikely Glasgow derby hero

By John Reid

December 4, 2019

When it comes to starting a Glasgow derby cup final, few would have given Lewis Morgan a chance of featuring for Celtic only a few short weeks ago.

He didn’t feature at all in the Celtic squad for six league games in a row between October and November. However, in the last few weeks he has featured regularly off the bench, and was the surprise starter in the 3-1 Europa League win over Rennes last week.

What was interesting about the Rennes game, is that Neil Lennon elected to play Morgan, a winger, as a striker, ahead of Leigh Griffiths, who was on the bench.

Move to play as striker paid off

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The move paid off, as Morgan scored Celtic’s goal in the win. He then kept his place in the side, as the main striker, in Celtic’s 4-1 win over Ross County, which saw him provide an assist in the won.

Now manager Neil Lennon has confirmed that Odsonne Edouard’s injury issues will keep him out of the game against Hamilton on Wednesday night.

That could well mean that we see Morgan start as a striker for the third game in a row. It also increases the chances of Morgan taking part in Sunday’s Betfred Cup Final against Rangers.

It would be unexpected to say the least if Morgan started the cup final, but if Edouard doesn’t make it he could well get the start.

Manager has faith in player

(Photo by Michael Campanella/Getty Images)

Neil Lennon won’t have any fears about playing Morgan. If he did, he wouldn’t have played him in the game against Rennes.

Who knows, perhaps Morgan will become an unlikely Hampden hero. It was Darren O’Dea who scored the opening goal in Celtic’s last cup final win against Rangers 10 years ago.

That was not a player that fans would have expected to find the back of the net. The same could be said for Morgan, not that he can’t score goals but an unlikely goalscorer. Who knows, perhaps on Sunday night Celtic fans all over Scotland and further afield will be signing Lewis Morgan’s name. That is a situation that wouldn’t have looked possible just over a month ago.