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‘Start him’, ‘100 percent’: Some Celtic fans urge Neil Lennon to pick 24-cap international tomorrow

Giuseppe Labellarte

Fri 16 October 2020 17:15, UK

A number of Celtic fans have urged Hoops boss Neil Lennon to pick Diego Laxalt in his starting XI to face Rangers tomorrow.

Celtic host their city rivals at Parkhead in a 12:30pm kickoff, hoping to leapfrog Steven Gerrard’s side at the top of the Premiership table, a springboard to then pull away with their game in hand.

To date, Greg Taylor has been getting the lion’s share of game time at left wing-back for Celtic this term, but some of his performances have yielded criticism from sections of the Bhoys fanbase.

With Laxalt joining the Bhoys on loan from AC Milan on transfer deadline day, Lennon will be mulling over whether to deploy the Uruguayan at left-back against Rangers or stick with Taylor, who is obviously more experienced in the Scottish game.

Some Celtic fans think the manager should opt for Laxalt, as per the below social media comments:

Laxalt 100%

— 👑 The King 👑 (@KingDutchy99)

play laxalt

— Tom Rogić Da Goat 🍀 (@OzzyWizardRogic)

Want Diego to start but think Taylor will.

— JC 🍀 (@BxlfastBhoy)

Lennon was very clear and blunt about Laxalt being ready to play in the press conference, the day after he signed. For that reason I think he will start

— Fly the Flag (@9down1togo)

laxalt for taylor, ntcham for turnbull eddy for griff

— michael mcguire (@michael91050563)

Laxalt for Taylor.
Ajer RCB, don’t fancy Jullien 1v1 against Kent.
Edouard starts (if possible)

— Steven Clark (@hotbaws1)

I really think Laxalt will play because of the way Lennon spoke about him to the media the day after he signed. I think Ntcham for Turnbull too for this one

— Fly the Flag (@9down1togo)

I think we need to play him to push back Tav – GT cannot beat Tav on the outside to the byline – & the same on the right side with frimpong pushing Barosic back . If we play GT most of their play will be on his side

— Peter (@18peter88)

I see no reason not to throw Laxalt in, if the manager has liked what he’s seen in training so far.
There’s no pressure cooker with there there being no fans, and we already know Taylor offers zero going forward.

— Clash City Rocker (@clash_rocker)

So many football managers on twitter telling us no way laxalt will play cos hes no played since june.

Naw but hes an athlete who trains so START HIM in the match till hes run his guts out and reolace later on if we have to..

— YUNG YUNG McGURN (@YungYungMcGurn)

Laxalt has made over 200 competitive senior club appearances throughout his career including 35 for Milan and 117 for Genoa, as well as for the Uruguay national team.

Taylor, meanwhile, has made 131 appearances for Kilmarnock and 28 for Celtic, as well as winning four caps for Scotland.