Will Neil Lennon turn to his double winning youth squad for Sunday’s visit to Kilmarnock?
Suspensions to Anthony Stokes and Georgios Samaras limit Celtic’s attacking options with the midfield robbed of Biram Kayal and Joe Ledley through injury.
Efrain Juarez is an obvious option in midfield. Even if the Mexican is short on first team sharpness he should provide more than capable back up for Scott Brown and Ki Sung-Yeung.
In attack James Forrest or Shaun Maloney can provide back-up to Gary Hooper and Daryl Murphy but neither player would class themselves as a striker.
Chapping at the door and desperate for a chance is on-form duo Greig Spence and Tony Watt.
Both players have enjoyed a fantastic end to the season helping themselves to the goals that have taken Stevie Frail’s side to the double despite the absence of injured to scorer James Keatings.
Watt had always threatened to go on the rampage but was becomingly increasingly frustrated as he failed to notch his first Celtic goal since being transferred from Airdrie in January.
That all changed on April 12 when he bulldozed through the Rangers defence at Murray Park before netting to put Celtic 2-0 up and eliminate Rangers from the title race.
Watt has gone from strength to strength since then and was named this week by Billy Stark for the Scotland u-19 squad.
Tellingly after last weeks final u-19 match against Hearts Frail said: “When we signed Tony it was with a view to going into the first team.”
Spence is an entirely different type of striker as he demonstrated at Hampden last week with the opening goal in the SFA Youth Cup win over Rangers.
Taking a pass from Stephen O’Donnell in his stride he quickly turned Darren Cole in the penalty box then smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
While Watt grafts and bullies defenders all over the pitch Spence is an old fashioned poacher saving his best work for the penalty area and preferably the six yard box .
Neither player is likely to start at Kilmarnock on Sunday but if they are on the bench they’ll provide the team with a natural striking option rather than a wholesale shuffle of the team and trying to squeeze a square peg into a round striking hole.
DOUBLE INJURY BLOW FOR BIRAM KAYAL
CELTIC U-19s SFA CUP WINNERS GALLERY
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no he wont go with the youth, probably go 4-4-2. commons on left, forrest on right, ki and broony \o/ in the middle, murphy & hooper up front, might stick loovens in for mulgrew. we dont really have much choice with the injuries & suspensions, its a case of lennon telling these guys “go out and make it up to the fans or dont because very few of you are going to be guaranteed a place” only players guaranteed a starting place now are forster (dont have anyone else), izzy, kayal, broony (managers have to stick by their captains at least until end of season) and commons. this title is ragers and its a sore one, but gers fans are DREADING next season and seeing mr lennon lift the title, this is just delaying the inevitable and although it seems a very long way away the only silver lining will be just how much sweeter it will be next year. (i know im a pessimist about this season, it is possible ragers drop points, but its extremely, extremely unlikely)
LENNON TO THE CORE
NO CHANCE,,, If Keatsy can’t even get on the bench with 21 goals, until his injury, Lennon will not look at these 2, I always believe we BUY goalkeepers and strikers…we don’t give youth any chance in these 2 positions in particular.