Celtic head coach promotes Nigeria-eligible teenage centreback Bosun Lawal to first team

NIGERIA-eligible teenage centreback Bosun Lawal has been promoted to the Glasgow Celtic first team by head coach Ange Postecoglou giving him the opportunity to make this weekend's match day squad.

Lawal, 19, is a central defender who has already featured for the Republic of Ireland at U21 level but could play for the Super Eagles due to his origin. According to The Scottish Sun, Lawal trained with the Celtic first team yesterday at Lennoxtown following the conclusion of the international break.

Celtic have an injury crisis heading into tomorrow's Scottish Premiership clash against Motherwell, with uncertainty surrounding the availability of Giorgos Giakoumakis, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Sead Haksabanovic. Concerned by the potential absence of Carter-Vickers and Starfelt, coach Postecoglou is considering his alternatives in the centre of defence.

He invited Lawal to train with the first team with a view to making a decision whether to include the Irish-Nigerian in the match day squad. Training with the first team of Celtic is nothing new to Lawal as he got an opportunity to train with the senior squad during pre-season preparations.

Although Lawal is a defensive-minded player, he has proved this season that he can score goals, finding the back of the net five time in 10 appearances in the Lowland League and Challenge Cup. One of his rivals for a spot in the match day squad against Motherwell is compatriot, German-born Nigerian central defender Moritz Jenz.