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Chris Sutton makes claim about Celtic’s Vakoun Issouf Bayo

France's defender Lucas Hernandez (R) vies with Ivory Coast's midfielder Vakoum Issouf Bayo (L) during the friendly international U21 football matc...
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Vakoun Issouf Bayo has been impressing for Celtic as of late.

Vakoun Bayo of Celtic celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Betfred Scottish League Cup quarter final match between Celtic and Partick Thistle at Celtic Park on September 25, 2019...

Chris Sutton has told The Scottish Sun that Vakoun Issouf Bayo has leapfrogged Leigh Griffiths in becoming Celtic’s second-choice striker.

Injury has prevented Griffiths from playing for the Hoops in a little over a month, with a 3-1 win over Hearts his last appearance.

In that time, Bayo, a £2 million signing by Brendan Rodgers in January [Scottish Herald], has established himself as an able deputy to Odsonne Edouard, forcing two own goals in that victory over Craig Levein’s side, before scoring a legitimate one in the 5-0 demolition of Partick Thistle in midweek.

And Sutton believes that the big Ivorian – who has only managed a little over 100 minutes of Premiership football this season – has cemented his place as Edouard’s understudy.

He told The Scottish Sun: “Who’s second in the pecking order? It’s Bayo now. He’s overtaken Leigh Griffiths, although I know he’s got injury issues.

“But Griffiths has got serious work to do to get his place back in this Celtic side. He’s had a tremendous career at Celtic, but when you are out for the length of time he’s been then it’s so much more difficult to get back to a level.”

It’s a big shout by Sutton. Lennon is a huge fan of Griffiths and even brought him to Celtic during his first spell in charge.

If he’s fit, the Scottish striker – who scored 40 times in the 2015-16 campaign – might be a better player than Edouard, let alone Bayo, so it remains to be seen whether Sutton is right on this one.

Vakoun Issouf Bayo of Celtic FC in an arial duel with Daniel Granli of AIK during a UEFA Europa League qualification match between AIK and Celtic FC at Friends arena on August 29, 2019 in...