Celtic continued their domination on the domestic front as they comfortably moved to the semi-finals of the League Cup competitions by winning 5-0 against Patrick Thistle. As expected, Lennon gave some fringe players a run in the team, and one of them was Scott Sinclair who started on the bench but came off in the second half to score a goal.
Sinclair has been in a bit of limbo for quite some time and has even failed to get into the matchday squads this season. People might say that he only played because it was Patrick Thistle, but Lennon indicated after the game that the experienced English winger is in his plans for the season.
Lennon on Sinclair
Lennon recently said (Daily Record), ”Scott Sinclair is still very much part of the squad. We have seen a good reaction from him. He isn’t a sulker, and his body language in training is improving all the time. He came on and made a difference and scored and looked strong.”
There is still some hope for the winger who managed to register 17 goals last season in all competitions. There have been various rumours that Lennon and Sinclair must have had a fallout as the English winger is too good of a player not to be involved in Celtic’s matchday squad. Moreover, even Lewis Morgan has started ahead of him this season on numerous occasions.
It remains to be seen whether the experienced player will get another chance to prove his worth for the Hoops. The former Aston Villa man had entered in the final few weeks of his contract before Celtic decided to trigger his year-long extension. The winger came close to leaving this summer, and there were various reports that English clubs were interested in him. But nothing materialised in the end, and he stayed put at Parkhead.
Did Lennon Make The Right Call?
Celtic should continue to keep Sinclair in their plans as he is an experienced and a proven player at this level. Once the January window opens, they can consider shipping him away for a transfer fee. If Sinclair’s current situation at Celtic Park does not change, then his chances of making a move in January could suffer, as not many buyers would be willing to pay a transfer fee for him. So Lennon needs to keep the experienced winger match fit and involved in his match-day plans. After his recent interview, it seems like the Celtic manager has made the right call.
