Neil Lennon has called out Jonathan Afolabi as a player capable of following Jeremie Frimpong into the Celtic first team.
With the focus on first team signings during the summer transfer window Celtic also set about bringing in a number of teenagers from the EPL.
Afolabi was released by Southampton at the end of last season but after impressing for Ireland at the u-19 European Championships he was given a deal by Celtic.
The powerfully built striker has already made his mark in reserve matches against Morton and Albion Rovers with Lennon noting the progress that he has been making.
Neil Lennon’s exclusive @CelticTV interview…
?? #CELLAZ preperation ??
?? Finding Frimpong ?
?? Added on time ?
?? “Raging” Forrest ?
?? “Craving” Euro success ?#SPFL #UEL #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/KeXb1G1b2H— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) October 21, 2019
Discussing the development of Frimpong, Lennon explained: “Afolabi will come under that category as well, Lee O’Connor, Luca Connell. So, we’re building, not just for the present, but the talent underneath that.
“We’ve got [Karamoko] Dembele, we’ve got [Armstrong] Oko-Flex, we’ve got Kerr McInroy hopefully coming back from a long-term injury pretty soon as well. We’ve got Daniel Arzani. So, there’s young, hungry talent underneath what we already have as a really solid first-team squad.”
Afolabi missed out on Ireland’s u-21 matches last week due to injury but could be involved in today’s Reserve Cup tie away to Dunfermline Athletic.
With Vakoun Bayo and Leigh Griffiths yet to make an impact this season there is a definite vacancy in the Celtic squad for a back-up striker to Odsonne Edouard.
