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Lennon must unleash Oko-Flex

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OPINION

Neil Lennon has done a great job since taking charge of Celtic when Brendan Rodgers quit Scotland to join Leicester.

Although the Bhoys drew against Aberdeen in a tough game last week, they are eight points ahead at the top of the Scottish Premiership and are two wins away from lifting the Scottish Cup.

So it is probably time for Lennon to start thinking about playing some of the club’s younger players, to get them battle-hardened for the first team and also raise the support for him to be the next permanent manager.

One youth player who has been playing incredibly well in the reserves lately is Armstrong Oko-Flex.

The 17-year-old has already been named in a first team squad this season when he made the bench for the trip to Kilmarnock in February, but he is still yet to be seen on the pitch by Celtic supporters.

The former Arsenal attacker, who can play on the left-wing or as a centre-forward, has scored two goals and supplied two assists in the last three reserves fixtures and he looks ready for a chance to impress in the senior squad before this season ends.

One of Oko-Flex’s assists came from a corner kick that was headed in against Hearts’ reserves by Marvin Compper, and Celtic have struggled to score from corners this season, so maybe the Dublin-born teenager is a future set-piece specialist for the Bhoys.

Lennon should definitely unleash the England youth international in the league before it’s too late, and the game against Dundee on Sunday would be the perfect chance to do so.

Oko-Flex would get Celtic fans on their feet with his pace, skills and eye for goal, plus Lennon will really impress the board and the fanbase if he puts his faith in some of the club’s younger players.

Scott Sinclair has played well lately, but there’s no harm in resting him for two or three league games and handing Oko-Flex his starting spot instead.

It would be a really smart move by Lennon.

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