Kris Commons: Celtic youngsters need time

Celtic midfielder Kris Commons insists he has been impressed by the youngsters in the squad but believes they need time to settle.

Bhoys boss Ronny Deila has handed opportunities to the younger members of the squad in the Europa League this season following their failure to make the cut for the Champions League.

The Scottish champions, who are priced at 81.00 to win the Europa League outright, have stuttered through Europe so far with a couple of 2-2 draws against Ajax and Fenerbahce.

Celtic’s most recent outing against the Turkish side saw Deila’s men allow a two-goal lead to slip with a very young-looking defensive line.

Kieran Tierney, Tyler Blackett and Dedryck Boyata, with an average age of 21, made up three of the back four on that night.

Commons believes that the youngsters have the opportunity to gain some valuable experience and catch the eye on European duty and has backed them to excel.

Commons said: “We’ve still got a very young team with Kieran making his Europa debut against Fenerbahce.

“So for him to play against that sort of opposition and still do extremely well is a credit to him.

“Dedryck Boyata is young, Tyler Blackett is young so we’ve got a young back four that’s not played a lot of foot ball together.

“The more games you play, though, the more confident you are and if you play against that sort of opposition and you play well, then that gives you the foundation and the belief that you do belong there.”