CELTIC legend Davie Hay has urged Neil Lennon not to ring the changes against Hibs this evening.
The Hoops boss is preparing his team for the crucial Betfred League Cup semi-final at Hampden with some calls to give game-time to players on the edge of the first team.
In the past, Brendan Rodgers chose Scott Bain ahead of Craig Gordon for matches in the domestic Cup competitions, but Hay believes Lennon must resist chopping and changing to keep faith with his tried and trusted performers.
The Parkhead club’s former player and manager, speaking to the Evening Times, said: “I think Neil Lennon will play Fraser Forster in goal against Hibs today and, in my opinion, that would be the correct call.
“I completely understand that it must be tempting in the Cup games to give Craig Gordon or Scott Bain some game-time, because it is a difficult thing to keep goalkeepers happy when they aren’t playing.
“For me, though, in a game of such importance, it is vital to maintain that stability in the backline.
“Neil Lennon has on occasion changed the full-backs from game to game, and he may do so again at Hampden after giving Moritz Bauer and Greg Taylor a run-out against St Mirren during the week.
“My feeling is that either Jeremie Frimpong or Bauer will play on the right, for instance, with Hatem Elhamed saved for the Lazio match on Thursday.
“I do think though that keeping the solid central three of Forster, Christopher Jullien and Kris Ajer is the most sensible approach in a semi-final and that’s what I expect Neil Lennon to do.”
* DON’T miss the unbeatable match report from Celtic v Hibs this evening – only in your champion CQN.
