Celtic boss Neil Lennon has told the Daily Record that he thinks summer signing Vasilis Barkas needs to be taken out of the firing line.
The Bhoys were in action on Wednesday night, beating Hamilton Academical 2-0 at Parkhead thanks to goals from Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard.
Lennon is likely glad that the win may momentarily ease the pressure on him, but he has now had to explain his goalkeeping decision.
Lennon went with Scott Bain in goal against the Accies, and he kept a clean sheet as he looks prove he is Celtic’s best stopper.
This meant that Barkas was left on the bench last night, as the Greek international continues to struggle in his debut season at Parkhead.
Barkas was snapped up from AEK Athens last summer, but hasn’t quite hit the heights expected of him having replaced Fraser Forster.
He has lost his place to Bain and Conor Hazard at times this season, and Lennon has now admitted that he doesn’t think Barkas has settled in Glasgow.
Lennon noted that he thinks Barkas needs more time to adapt at Celtic, and fans will see the best of him moving forward, meaning his Bhoys career isn’t over by any stretch of the imagination just yet.
“I don’t think Vasilis has settled. He’s not the presence at the minute that he can be,” said Lennon. “I think he needs a bit of adaptation, more time. I don’t think he is up to the speed and physicality of the game.”
“I made the decision to bring Scott back in. He has been knocking at the door and he was comfortable. You will probably see the best of Vasilis as we go along, not just at this moment,” he added.
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