Celtic coach running the rule over 20yo Irish-Nigerian defender in Portugal 

New Glasgow Celtic coach Brendan Rodgers has taken Republic of Ireland U21 international of Nigerian descent Bosun Lawal to Portugal for a warm weather training camp as part of their preparations for the new season, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The Northern Irish football tactician is running the rule over the versatile defender before making a decision on his future - whether to keep him in the first team fold, loan him out to get experience or send him back to the B team, whom he represented last season.

Lawal was highly rated by Ange Postecoglou when he was in charge of the Hoops, with the Australian including him in the first team squad for the Sydney Super Cup and promoting him to first team training several times last season. 

The 20-year-old received four call ups for first team matches last term, and made his debut off the bench in a 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Morton at Celtic Park in January 2023.

The Irish-Nigerian enjoyed success with the B team, starring as they won the Glasgow Cup by beating bitter rivals Rangers in the showpiece. 

Lawal joined Celtic in the summer of 2021 after rejecting a professional contract at Watford, where he was named the Academy Player of the Year in his final season at Vicarage Road. 

Treble winners last season Celtic will face Yokohama F. Marinos, Gamba Osaka, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Athletic Bilbao in friendly matches before their season opener against Ross County on August 5. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : celticfc.com 

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