After Celtic won their first leg tie against FK Sarajevo there was one telling phrase from Neil Lennon.
Asked about his defensive formation he mentioned ‘fitting square pegs into round holes’ which was perhaps more of a nod towards transfer market frustrations than a comment on the performances of Kris Ajer and Nir Bitton.
A fortnight later Celtic are preparing to face Nomme Kalju in a second round qualifier with the same gaping hole in defence at right-back.
The best central defender at the club again looks like being played out of position on Wednesday night with Lennon admitting that the current position is far from ideal.
“It’s a bit of a makeshift back four just now but thankfully we have managed to negotiate the first qualifying tie,” the Celtic boss told the Daily Record. “I’m delighted with what the players have given me so far. Nir has been comfortable in defence – but I prefer him in midfield. He’s a guy who can really kick on this season.
“He has missed a lot of football but I have high hopes for him. I don’t want too many versatile players, guys who are jacks of all trades but masters of none. Ajer at right-back isn’t ideal either but hopefully, as this period goes on, we’ll get the right players in the right positions.”
Hatem Abd Elhamed looks like signing up from Hapoel Beer Sheva in the next couple of days but like Christopher Jullien his fitness will have to be assessed with his last match time a brief cameo for Israel in their European Championship defeat against Poland at the start of June.
