Neil Lennon’s Celtic plans may have taken a little bit of a hit after Vakoun Issouf Bayo’s knock.
The Celtic manager confirmed to Celtic TV earlier on this afternoon that the Ivorian has picked up a knock. Worryingly, Lennon also stated that it was yet another hamstring tweak. Interestingly, however, Celtic don’t yet know the full extent of the injury, and it’s currently a waiting game.
Therefore, let’s be hypothetical for a moment and say it’s a similar knock to the one picked up last season. Bayo missed the final three months of last term with another hamstring injury picked up on international duty.
If he was out for a similar period of time, Lennon could have a big decision to make.
We all know that Neil is a massive fan of the 4-4-2 formation. He likes having a partnership up top. Back when he was the manager first time around, we saw several of them. There was Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper which was his trademark. As well as that, however, Lennon mixed and matched a lot between the likes of Teemu Pukki, Amido Balde, Lassad, and Miku to name a few.
At Hibernian, he also fancied several different striking partnerships. Dominique Malonga and Jason Cummings were his first, before Anthony Stokes joined the mix to help get him out of the Championship.
When Hibs were promoted, Florian Kamberi and Jamie Maclaren was often a favoured pairing. It’s hardly unlikely Lennon wants to do something similar here.
Lennon’s Celtic plans could involve four strikers
If Bayo is indeed out for a period of time, you have to wonder whether Lennon will now go for that striker he wanted several months ago (The Herald). After all, if he’s left with just Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard to partner each other, it only takes one injury for Lennon to have to change his formation.
There is, of course, young Jack Aitchison who’s been with the squad at their pre-season training camp. But whether Lennon would want to put faith in such an inexperienced youngster is doubtful.
Nothing should be expected before we all know the full extent of Bayo’s injury. At the end of the day, it may just be a slight tweak that leaves him out for one or two matches.
But if Lennon has plans to develop striking partnerships this season, a longer-term injury could easily make him dip back into the market.
In an ideal world, if Lennon does want to truly go with two up top, he would be as well having four strikers in any case. But before Bayo’s injury it wasn’t a priority. Right-back remains the number one position we have to strengthen in, as well as potentially another centre-back.
But anything serious to Bayo and don’t count out Lennon potentially delving back in for another forward.
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