Jonathan Afolabi has departed Celtic for the remainder of the season and put pen to paper on a six month loan deal that sees him join Dunfermline according to The Daily Record.
Afolabi joined Celtic in the summer from the much vaunted Southampton academy but has failed to make an impact and with Neil Lennon splashing the cash on £3.5m forward Patryk Klimala, his chances of seeing any first-team football were even more remote.
With Odsonne Edouard, Leigh Griffiths, Vakoun Issouf Bayo and now Klimala ahead of him in the queue, Afolabi has made the decision to go out on loan to get valuable game time to aid his development, the writing was on the wall when – even in the midst of a striker crisis – Lennon opted for the now departed Lewis Morgan to spearhead the Hoops attack.
Afolabi at 20-years-old, still has plenty of time on his hands and need only look at the likes of Ryan Christie to reaffirm that being sent out on loan does not necessarily spell the end of your Parkhead career.
Dunfermline were expected to have to fend off interest in their own free-scoring centre-forward Kevin Nisbett with Rangers rumoured to have been interested in the 21 goal striker, Afolabi could yet prove to be a pre-emptive signing should they look to cash in on Nisbett knowing that they have cover already in place before the window shuts.
Should Afolabi have had more of a chance when Edouard was injured?
Yes
No
Celtic are in a strong position being five points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, through to the next round of the Scottish Cup and into the knockout stages of the Europa League, Lennon’s reinforcements will further enhance their chances as they look to maintain their stranglehold of domestic football – Afolabi’s departure will have little, if no impact at all, on their hopes of another clean sweep.