Is it time for Neil Lennon to find a first XI?

All season long Neil Lennon has shielded his players from the critics- until last night.

After the sixth domestic defeat of the season- before February is out- there was one comment from the Celtic manager that stood out from the rest.

“People keep coming up to me wanting to play games,” Lennon told Radio Scotland. “People keep saying that I should use the squad but if I leave Hooper and Ledley out we look a little bit short at times- that was the case tonight.

“When Hooper came on we opened Motherwell up at will.”

Lennon made five changes to the side that beat Dundee but every one of the players coming in were internationalists.

It may be an old fashioned notion but perhaps it’s time to go back to finding a first choice XI?

Injuries will always occur but identifying and playing a first XI almost every week might go some way to restoring consistency and creating real competition for places.

Most players know that they will be playing every few weeks and can tell themselves that they are part of a successful squad, take part in title celebrations and enjoy the feeling of being part of things. Dropping onto the bench doesn’t hurt- a recall and game time usually isn’t far away.

Under Martin O’Neill there was no doubt who his first choice team was and even when less than 100% fit those tried, tested and trusted players would almost certainly be in the starting selection.

Tommy Johnson played his part and left for first team football, as did Alan Stubbs, Morten Wieghorst, Steve Guppy and others.

Some would set the O’Neill took his policy to extremes with players like Shaun Maloney, Aiden McGeady, John Kennedy and Colin Healy not getting the game time needed to accelerate their progress but no-one doubted who O’Neill relied on and trusted.

Of the current squad Fraser Forster, Kelvin Wilson, Emilio Izaguirre, Victor Wanyama and Gary Hooper are about the only players guaranteed to be playing when they are fit.

Lennon could easily field two competitive midfield’s, selecting from Wanyama, Scott Brown, Joe Ledley, Beram Kayal, Kris Commons, Paddy McCourt, Charlie Mulgrew, Georgios Samaras and Dylan McGeouch. Adam Matthews and Izaguirre are more than capable of pushing forward into wing-back roles.

No-one needs to tell Lennon how to do his job or who his best players are.

After last night’s comments the Celtic boss showed the same frustrations as the fans that filled the visitors sections and watched on television.

Saturday’s Scottish Cup tie at St Mirren is crucial for how this season is viewed and how the remaining three months of the season develop.

Finding a first choice XI with a hungry bench of players wanting a share of the action should ensure that Lennon isn’t branding any other performances insipid or lazy.

SELECT your first XI and team for St Mirren in the box below.

CLICK HERE for Lennon: Some good players may be leaving

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