Marvin Compper has been named to start for Celtic’s reserves in their clash against Hearts at Cappielow on Monday afternoon.
The Hoops confirmed via their official academy Twitter account that January signing Vakoun Issouf Bayo is also included in the starting line-up, as well as wonderkids Karamoko Dembele and Armstrong Oko-Flex.
? Our starting XI and subs for today's #CelticFC Reserves match in the Reserve League ? Hearts.
Kick-off: 2pm at Cappielow.
COYBIG! ? pic.twitter.com/edu9GhpME1
— Celtic FC Academy (@CelticFCAcademy) March 11, 2019
Bayo, 22, has only made one first team appearance for the Bhoys since joining on a £2million deal from Dunajska Streda in the winter and Neil Lennon is yet to name him in a matchday squad since replacing Brendan Rodgers.
OPINION
It is not the first time that Bayo has started for Celtic’s reserves, but it is definitely good for him to be getting gametime and getting accustomed to life in Scottish football, even if it is playing for the reserves. Right now Lennon has a tough job of sealing the club’s third treble in a row and he has a good number of striker options with Oliver Burke, Timothy Weah and Odsonne Edouard in the first team. Bayo is not going to replace any of them, so it seems more and more likely that he was signed in January with the view to him having a role next season. Compper on the other hand does not seem to have any future at Parkhead. The 33-year-old has made one appearance for Celtic since being signed from RB Leipzig in January 2018. He still has another year left on his deal, so maybe the senior defender is playing in the reserves to potentially spark some interest.