Lennon set to give Tony Watt stating place
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
Follow Video Celts on Twitter and Facebook