Neil Lennon is prepared to throw Tony Watt in against Barcelona tonight.
The 18-year-old has earned the praise of his manager in recent displays but hasn’t been involved in any of Celtic’s three matches in Group G of the Champions League.
Long term injuries to Anthony Stokes and Lassad Nouioui have given Watt his chance with Gary Hooper, James Forrest and Georgios Samaras likely to miss out tonight.
Watt and Miku linked up effectively to find the net against Dundee United on Sunday with the young striker in line to start against the Catalan giants.
“I’d have no hesitation about playing Tony,” Lennon revealed. “The kid’s fearless and he’s playing very well at the minute and scoring goals.
“It’s a big ask against Barcelona but sometimes with that lack of fear you can go and be a hero on the night. Along with Miku, then he’s definitely in our thinking.
“He’s a humble boy and he’s still learning as he goes along. We’re delighted with him — more than delighted, actually. He’s been a huge bonus for the team in the last two games.
“He played very well second half against United on Sunday and has different attributes that he brings to the game.
“He can run channels, he can drive at people, he can score really good individual goals like he did at the weekend. He also got a header at St Mirren and he scores different kinds of goals.
“There’s obviously a rawness about him that we’ll be able to polish off as the years go on, but as long as he keeps himself grounded, which he’s trying to do, then he’s in a very good place for us.
“I don’t think that it comes across in his personality but when he goes out on the pitch his body language has a wee bit of gallusness about him, which is great. I would not discourage that at all in him.”
Watt’s former youth side team-mates Joe Chalmers, Marcus Fraser and Bahrudin Atajic have been included in the Celtic squad for tonight’s match.
CLICK HERE for Green Brigade’s Barcelona display
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Get this bhoy involved.
This lad is special and experience like this tonight will go along way for us this season.
What we’ve seen so far from TW is just the tip of the ice-berg.
HH 1NL YNWA
The entire team need to show no fear of the opposition. If we sit back Barca will pick us off eventually as shown in the Camp Nou recently. However they are weak at the back, hopefully still without Pique and our best chance is to stretch their central defenders, draw them deep and attack with pace.
Set plays are vital, we cannot be as wasteful with corners, crosses as we were at the weekend.
Nothing to lose, no-one expects us to take anything so why not go for it. The fans will be right behind the team like never before.
someone once said if your good enough your old enough good luck Tony and happy birthday Celtic
If there’s no hooper then it’s got to be watt, can’t wait for tonight the place will be rocking and good luck to the green brigade with the display and we should all play our part tonight no sitting and waiting for it to happen let’s roar the bhoys on to victory. MON THE HOOPS HH
PLAY HIM!!! deserves to on his league form. Or do we go with a half fit Sammy? Watt for me!
Happy Birthday CELTIC. Good luck tonight