Celtic confirmed on their official website celticfc.net on Tuesday that teenage defender Lee O’Connor has completed a loan move to Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle for the remainder of the season, with the news also shared on their Twitter channel @CelticFC.
We can confirm that Lee O'Connor has joined @PartickThistle on loan until the end of the season.
Good luck, Lee! 🍀
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 21, 2020
The 19-year-old, who joined from Manchester United last year and made his Republic of Ireland debut in November, has been captaining the Hoops’ reserve team and, according to The Scottish Sun, he has impressed with his performances at that level.
However, he has yet to be given his bow at senior level or even be named on the bench by Neil Lennon for a first team game. That is despite senior defenders such as Hatem Abd Elhamed, Boli Bolingoli and Kristoffer Ajer all missing games through injury this season, with O’Connor forced to watch on as fellow 19-year-old Jeremie Frimpong has broken through to the first team.
After news of the Irishman’s loan was confirmed, these Celtic fans took to Twitter to voice their disapproval of the move, with one describing it as a “weird” development:
The wisdom escapes me.We are constantly playing midfielders in defence,with mixed results,why not play theyoung guy.
— jDB (@jDB34772262) January 21, 2020
Unpopular opinion but I think he’s good enough for our first team now
— Leo Dougan (@LeoDougan) January 21, 2020
Doesn’t strike me as being a good arrangement for player or club.
— joh (@joh670) January 21, 2020
Never given a squad no should ve bn given a chance
— Damien Mitchell (@Sligodamo32) January 21, 2020
Too good for that level I’d say
— Emrod (@Emrod_lives) January 21, 2020
Weird
— 🧱 (@ftblkn) January 21, 2020
Do you think Celtic made the right decision in loaning out O’Connor or should they have kept him at Parkhead? Comment below with your views!
