Neil Lennon will delve into Celtic’s development squad for tomorrow’s trip to Inverness Caley Thistle.
Midfield is the biggest concern for the Celtic boss with Joe Ledley and Beram Kayal ruled out for at least a fortnight. With Scott Brown a doubt and Dylan McGeough out injured it leaves Victor Wanyama as the only central midfielder available following the sale of Ki Sung Yueng to Swansea.
That list of absentees is certain to bring Filip Twardzik Callum McGregor and Jackson Irvine into the managers thoughts for central midfield with McGregor getting some game time against Real Madrid and Irvine playing against Inter Milan.
Both players were an integral part of last season’s double winning youth side playing side by side in the middle of the park with John Kennedy fielding a flexible five man midfield with two wide players breaking forward to support the sole striker.
Tony Watt was the sole striker for most of last season and showed his ability creating the chance for Kris Commons to score last week’s equaliser against Ross County.
Looking at his limited options Lennon said: “The squad´s a bit stretched again, there are a few bumps and bruises from Tuesday night and we will have to change the team a little bit.
“Regardless of whether we went with a full-strength team or not, it would still be a difficult game against Inverness and Ross County was the same last week.
“We played okay, not brilliantly, but we at least deserved a point out of the game on chances created and possession we had. I´m looking for a bit more urgency tomorrow.
“They´re (Ledley and Kayal) not long-term injuries and we have Victor Wanyama coming back into the squad for tomorrow. We still have options in all positions that we are looking at just now.
“The midfield is probably the strongest department at the club. We still have Brown, Wanyama, Twardzik and Mulgrew at a push who can come in and play there. Like I say, the injuries aren’t majorly concerning, particularly Joe´s.”
As well as dealing with a worrying injury list the Celtic boss may also be temped to rest some players rather than have them playing their fourth match in ten days in the return leg against Helsingborg.
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Let the young players loose on the SPL as usual the Referee will need watching. I’ll go for penalty denied in the second half.
I’d have no hesitation in putting in the young guns for SPL fixtures. Kayal has been well below his best for some time, Brown blows hot & cold, Joe will be a big miss but I am sure no-one will let the side down if given the nod.
Grat pity McGeough & George are injured but their time will come….now a chance for others to step up.
I have to laugh when only last week I was talking to my mate about the depth of the celtic squad and especially the midfield!
They are falling faster than my toastie soldiers in eggs this morning! In saying that I reckon its as good a time as any to let twardic and slane have a pop…
It’ll be interesting to see if they can break down a 10 man defence!