3 major problems Celtic need to solve after pre-season

What’s our support or back up for Edouard?

This is on the assumption that Odsonne Edouard is here for 10IAR, which is looking more likely by the day. Sweeping generalisations follow, they are a bit unfair and perhaps heartless – but there is no room for sympathy when chasing the historic 10 straight league titles.

Griffiths, everyone would again love to see him fight his way back, beat his demons, conquer his fitness and return to glory. His and Celtic’s last league game saw a glorious hat trick at home. A lot has changed since. Hopefully he gets the support he needs from the club, but maybe the patience and support to restore him is wearing thin and he will need to do more himself. If he can return successfully it’s terrific news all round, but Lennon can’t rely on him returning however much the fans may want it for his own sake never mind their own.

Bayo, again harsh, but there’s still little to suggest this guy is going to be a real challenger for position or no. 2 alongside Edouard up front. At best, if fit and available, he’s just another striker on the bench. Celtic need more than that.

Klimala has done himself no harm with performances against Nice and Lyon suggesting he can hold down 2nd place. It’s unclear whether he is a lone striker option or could play with Edouard as a 2 up front. Celtic deployed that successfully when Griffith’s returned alongside early in 2020. Could Klimala? Perhaps, there’s time to tell.

Celtic do need a better further striker option to work with Edouard and Klimala though, if either were injured for any length of time we may struggle. There are do lots of goals to be scored throughout the team, but a striker to lead the line is definitely required and at the moment we have 1, then a promising one and then Bayo and Griffiths. It’s a concern that needs addressing.