VASILIS BARKAS is set to make his Celtic debut against Kilmarnock this Sunday after Neil Lennon confirmed that he had been training well. The Celtic manager said that the 26-year-old was ready to dislodge Scott Bain between the sticks for the trip to Ayrshire. Bain started the game against Hamilton last weekend but the £4.5m arrival from AEK Athens is likely to start on Sunday.
Speaking at today’s media conference, the Celtic manager said that he would have a decision to make as to whether he replaces Bain with the Greek International.
“He’s had a good week’s training so we’ll make a decision on that in the next 24 hours.
“But he’s had a good week in training. Going to Rugby Park, it will be – I wouldn’t say an eye-opener for him – but certainly a bit different. There will be no fans plus the artificial pitch. So we’ll need to make sure he’s as well prepared as possible by kick-off time in terms of the conditions and circumstances he’ll face.”
Barkas signs on a four year deal, believed to be worth £1m per year after Celtic paid around £4.5m for the player from AEK Athens. Barkas was in goals when Celtic were dumped out of the Champions League in 2018 by the Greek side and joins becoming the new number one, taking on from Fraser Forster – who decided against making a permanent return.
Celtic have only signed two players this summer with Moi Elyounoussi and Vasilis Barkas arriving. The manager confirmed in his media conference that he would be looking for another central defender whilst looking for another striker as well.
