NEIL LENNON praised Jeremie Frimpong’s performance following the 4-0 win over Livingston and admitted it was “one of the best” he had seen from a Celtic right-back.
The 18-year-old Dutchman was relentless as ripped the opposition to shreds with his devastating running on the flank.
Livi had two players – Steven Lawless and Aaron Taylor-Sinclair – up against him, but the defender proved irresistible in only his sixth appearance in the top side.
So far, the Hoops have won the lot and the Amsterdam-born kid has been a stand-out in them all, including scoring his first goal for the club in the 4-0 success over Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
On this occasion, James Forrest collected a double with Odsonne Edouard and Scott Brown also on the scoresheet, as the champions avenged their defeat to the same opponents at the start of last month.
A beaming Lennon, speaking to the Sunday Mail, enthused: “Frimpong is amazing.
“That performance is one of the best I’ve seen from a right-back at Celtic. It had everything, pace, power, assists, shots on goal, recovery runs, defending.
“For a kid at 18 to come into a daunting environment like this – he’s handled it brilliantly.
“His talent is unequivocal at the minute. He’s made us a better team, there’s no question about that.
“We thought he’d be a good emerging talent, a development player. But, meteorically, he’s come through.
“It’s all down to him, no-one else. It was a team effort getting him, but his performances are down to him. People think he struggles with height, but he deals with it with great upper body strength.
“He’s amazing with the ball and is a real find for us.
“He’s contributing immensely right now and it’s his place to lose.”
Frimpong, who arrived on deadline day from Manchester City on a three-year-old contract, will sit out Thursday’s Europa League Group E game against Rennes at Parkhead because he was not registered in Lennon’s original European squad.
Austrian international Moritz Bauer is likely to be in the No.2 position with Israeli Hatem Abd Elhamed out with a groin strain.
