Celtic manager Neil Lennon has until 11pm next Monday to submit an updated squad list to UEFA for the knockout stages of the Europa League, with @Moravcik67_ on Twitter prompting plenty of debate among Hoops fans about possible changes to the squad from the group stage.
1. European stuff.
We have until 11pm next Monday (3rd Feb) to update the squad for the knockout stages of the Europa League.
We can make up to 3 changes to the squad – as long we stay within the normal squad rules. Once submitted, that's our squad set all the way to Gdansk.
— Moravcik67 (@Moravcik67_) January 27, 2020
UEFA’s regulations stipulate that up to three new players may be registered for the knockout rounds, with the squad then set for the remainder of the tournament. Celtic can name a maximum of 23 players in List A as things stand but players born after January 1st, 1998 may be included separately in List B, provided they have been with the club for at least two years.
The sale of Scott Sinclair and impending departure of Lewis Morgan to Inter Miami (as per Miami Herald) would free up two berths from the group stage squad, which could be taken by January arrivals Patryk Klimala and Ismaila Soro. Jeremie Frimpong was not in the group stage squad but would need to be included in List A if drafted in for the knockout rounds as, despite being just 19, he was only signed by Celtic last September.
Therefore, for all three of those to be included, Lennon would have to drop another player from the squad, and these Celtic fans gave their thoughts on who they feel is most likely to be cut, with fringe players such as Vakoun Issouf Bayo and Moritz Bauer among those touted for the axe:
Bayo, Shved or Bauer to drop out I’d imagine
— Sean Hamilton (@seanhammy85) January 27, 2020
Bayo out, Klimala in. Can make a case for Bayo but it’s pretty thin. If we need to knock it long to the big guy against better sides hoping to get something, we’ve been well beaten.
— Andrew Mackay (@mackayac) January 27, 2020
Soro will miss out. Pretty well off at CM. Frimpong and Kilmala in, Bauer out if we sign anyone else.
— 🍀 (@SellickParkSeat) January 27, 2020
Apart from the obvious 2, I would drop Gordon and Shved to open up a further 2 spaces.
— Chris (@ChrisDoc88) January 27, 2020
On current form – Rogic. God knows what has happened to this guy.
— McT (@kevmctaggart) January 27, 2020
Should definitely drop Bauer for Frimpong. Like for like replacement in the same position and take a chance on the fitness of El Hamed.
Bauer is rotten IMO.
— View from 112 (@View_from_112) January 27, 2020
Swap bauer with frimpong. Bring in klimala and soro. Not hopeful of anymore coming in.
— Ajje McG (@AjjeMcG88) January 27, 2020
Celtic fans, who would you omit from the Europa League squad for the knockout stages if a player had to be cut from the list for the group stage? Let us know by commenting below!
