NEIL LENNON will spend the next 12 days searching for two new players who can hit the ground running in Celtic’s bid for nine in a row.
The Hoops boss, who saw the holders overcome Partick Thistle 2-1 in the Scottish Cup at Firhill last night, acknowledged the need for incoming players who can handle the Parkhead pressure right from the off.
Lennon has already spent £5.5million in bringing in Polish striker Patryk Klimala and Ivorian midfielder Ismaila Soro, both 21 years old.
However, the Irishman realises he will need experience in the coming months with the champions only two points ahead of Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox side who have a game in hand.
JOY BHOYS…Patryk Klimala and new team-mates Callum McGregor and Greg Taylor at the final whistle at Firhill.
As he prepared the team for Wednesday night’s visit to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock, Lennon told the Sunday Mail: “Ideally, yeah, they’d be starters. What we are looking for is to add one or two, like an Elyounoussi type, who are ready to come in and play straight away with a bit more experience and physicality.
“Against Rangers, we looked like we lacked a little bit of nous and experience, a little bit of physicality, so they are areas we’re looking at to bring in.
“We’ve room for manoeuvre to bring one or two more in.”
Asked if former fans’ favourite Victor Wanyama, currently frozen out at Spurs, was a possible target, Lennon answered: “He’s in my thoughts, but could we afford him? I doubt it very much.
“The problem is where to fit him in. I don’t think that’s going to be an option.”
Lennon also expects to have injured Mohamed Elyounoussi back before the end of the month.
He added: “Vakoun Bayo is maybe another week or so away from playing and we felt bringing another striker was important. Klimala has pace, power and raw talent. We have competition there now.
“If we have a number of strikers it might give us the opportunity to play two up. You can’t have enough good strikers and there will be injuries and suspensions.”
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