Some evil curse was cast at Celtic last season with injuries. At a club the size of Celtic, it was very telling the extent of the injuries when the team played most of the season with one recognised striker.
For the guts of a month, Celtic had no strikers and was forced to dip into the reserves to field a team for a Glasgow derby. At the start of last season, the club was overrun with midfielders but it did not stop the injury curse eating into players and at one point Celtic was forced to play Nir Bitton and Ewan Henderson who had only played 3 games all season.
The defence suffered the same kind of fate with Celtic favourite Kieran Tierney missing most of the season and Rodgers/Lennon was forced to play midfielders and wingers in the left-back position in big games.
Strangely, these injuries did have some advantages. Ryan Christie, Kris Ajer and Scot Bain all became first-team regulars and now they own their current position. With so many players already left through the exit doors and the possibility of one or two more leaving, the club could really struggle with another injury curse. Or would it? Maybe there is more talent waiting in the wings ready to set Celtic Park alight.
Neil Lennon won’t be short of candidates to step up to the plate. Lewis Morgan, Mikey Johnston and Ewan Henderson have already impressed pre-season. Johnston probably looks the most likely. Then Lennon has the likes of Shved, Gutman and Bayo who could all potentially be the next fringe player to give their manager a welcome selection headache. Or will it a youth player? Young Dembele and Oko-Flex are knocking on the first team door.
Lennon has a massive void to fill with so many players having just left the building. His time to replace them is ticking away as the transfer deadline counts down. With alleged failed bids in the market by Celtic, Lennon could be testing his fringe players quicker than he expected.
