Lennon’s summer signing to make international debut before his first Celtic appearance

Without having made the substitute bench for Celtic Lee O’Connor is about to make his international debut.

The 19-year-old seemed set to progress through the loan system at Manchester United but on the same day that Jeremie Frimpong was signed from Manchester City, O’Connor became a Celtic player, signing a four-year contract.

The defender from Waterford has been a regular youth internationalist for Ireland but after being sent off in the u-21 match against Iceland last month his suspension has allowed Mick McCarthy to call him up to the full international squad for tomorrow’s friendly with New Zealand.

The Irish Mirror reports:

Celtic defender O’Connor will start at right-back. He is available because he is suspended for the Under-21s qualifier away to Armenia tomorrow.

The match with New Zealand is very much the warm up ahead of Monday’s final European Championship match at home to Denmark where a win will guarantee McCarthy’s side a place in next summer’s finals.

With u-21 boss Stephen Kenny scheduled to take over from McCarthy next season it seems that O’Connor is being ear-marked to become an international regular.