Celtic boss Neil Lennon realises that the Hoops are in a bit of a striker shortage at the moment. Odsonne Edouard is currently the only fit attacker at the club, with Vakoun Issouf Bayo and Leigh Griffiths both set to miss Wednesday’s game against St Mirren.
However, the Hoops boss may have found a possible solution to the problem. He believes that either Mikey Johnston or Ryan Christie could play up-front if it was necessary.
“A flexibility about them”
“Mikey can do it, Ryan Christie can do it. There’s a flexibility about them” he said, as reported by the Scottish Sun.
He also conceded that any injury to Edouard would have a detrimental effect on the side.
“You don’t want to lose Odsonne for any games because he is so pivotal to the way we play.”
Playing either Johnston or Christie up-front would really be the worst case scenario for the Hoops boss. You imagine it would only happen in an emergency, where the team have no other strikers available.
Duo far more valuable in natural positions
The duo is far more valuable to the side in their natural positions. Johnston on the wing, and Christie as an attacking midfielder.
There is no doubt that one of the duo could perhaps do a job as a striker for a brief period of time. Christie is in double figures for goals this season, he knows where the back of the net is.
However, he might not be suited to playing as a striker, and the same could well be said for Johnston. That is why it is important that Griffiths and Bayo get back to full fitness as soon as possible. Celtic won’t want to be in a position where one of their key players has to play up-front even though they aren’t a striker.
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