Celtic’s COVID drama is almost behind them as they expect all players and management affected by the self isolation nightmare to return to normal training over the course of today and tomorrow. It is yet not known what the condition of those players will be and if they will be ready in time to face Livingston on Wednesday but at least Neil Lennon will have a larger pool of experience and quality to choose from.
Celtic fulfilled their last two fixtures without any recognised strikers against Hibernian and Livingston at Celtic Park. The Bhoys dropped four points from six as they drew both fixtures with insipid and uninspiring performances that have left the fans bemused and angry as the Scottish Champions fell further behind their rivals in the Championship race.
The Hoops recalled midfielder Scott Robertson and goalkeeper Ross Doohan during the crisis but failed to recall any front men. Celtic currently have Jonathan Afolabi on loan at Dundee and Vakoun Issouf Bayo at Toulouse.
Afolabi is currently enjoying a spell of first team football at Dens Park making ten appearances so far and scoring three goals. The youngster shows great promise and potential and has impressed so far during his time on Tayside.
Vakoun Issouf Bayo is currently on loan at French League 1 side, Toulouse, and has made twelve appearances so far and scoring two. Not a great goal return, granted, but the forward is big, powerful and quick and could have provided a counter attacking option for the team. I personally feel Bayo was not given a proper chance at Celtic and this could have spurred the Ivorian international to fight for a place in the squad.
Against Hibernian, Celtic opted to play Cameron Harper out of position as the lone striker against Hibernian and was largely ineffective, which is not a slight on the boy, but it was too much to ask from the player who has had no first team experience. Tom Rogic was chosen to lead the line against Livingston and was largely disappointing, as he was against Hibernian and the big Australian has been the subject of much criticism amongst the fans following his last two appearances.
Failing to recall both strikers is not only negligible by the Hoops management team but the message it sends to those players must be devastating for their confidence and shows their future’s may possible lie elsewhere.