Bosun Lawal is a Celtic star in the making and we have to keep him on our books…
The Celtic Star was in attendance at Somerset Park yesterday evening as the Bhoys took on Scott Brown’s Ayr United side. The game ended in a 1-1 draw with the team being almost fully rotated at half time, meaning that we got to see some our younger players take to the pitch under Brendan Rodgers’ management.
Of course, we all expected a rotated squad and supporters were hopeful of seeing Lawal feature. He came on at half time and he certainly made an impact.
Coming on and playing in the defensive midfielder role, he played a pivotal part in ensuring that our midfield stayed strong. His positioning was fantastic, with him assisting on the defence and on the attack very well. One of our best attacks of the second half even came through him as he burst forward, evading multiple Ayr players before sending a through ball right through their back line.
And his attacking ability is something that made him stand out for me. He is composed, he is skilful, he is able to hold up the ball but also beat a man if he’s required to. He knows how to find space and he uses his strength and stature well to win duels and hold possession.
He seems to be composed for the entire time he is on the pitch, not giving in to pressure when the opposition put him under it. This energy radiates off him and he commands the backline, even if he plays slightly ahead of it and isn’t wearing the captain’s armband. By that, I mean he ensures that the players around him are staying calm and holding their own. I would certainly describe him as a natural leader.
With all of this in mind, I genuinely believe that if he is given a chance in this season’s Celtic team, then he will perform and earn himself a permanent place in the squad. A physical, forward-thinking midfielder could be exactly what we need, especially if Matt O’Riley goes.
And the fact he can slot in at centre back should we require also makes him the perfect fit to keep around.
His form last season stood out and is one of the reasons why Brendan Rodgers is giving him a chance in pre-season. He featured 47 times in all competitions while out on loan to Fleetwood Town, even bagging six goals and two assists.
We’ll have to be careful though because over the last few months, it has been reported all over the media that a couple of English sides would be interested in the 21-year-old’s signature, so if he doesn’t manage to get regular football in Glasgow, he may look for a move elsewhere, as happened in the case of home-grown talent Rocco Vata this week.
Jessica Elliott
The Celtic best-seller
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