Frank McAvennie lamented Neil Lennon’s decision to give lots of youngsters game time for Celtic in pre-season and insisted this season “is not the time for boys”.

The former Hoops and St Mirren forward, speaking exclusively to Football Insider correspondent Dylan Childs, was adamant that Rangers would hit the ground running next week having played their first team regulars in preseason.

The Gers made it three wins and three clean sheets on the bounce yesterday as they beat Motherwell 4-0 at Ibrox.

Whereas the Bhoys have failed to win in their three outings in July, most recently a 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Stephen Welsh, Karamoko Dembele, Scott Robertson and Ewan Henderson have all been handed starts but McAvennie suggested that to do so was a mistake.
“Rangers have shown promising signs.” he told Football Insider.
“They have played their first team and they look like they are going to hit the ground running. They are ready for the challenge.
“I know you have to give the boys run-outs and I would like to have seen the likes of Rogic and Ntcham gets lots of game time. It is not the time for the young boys.
“There is about 17 top players at Celtic that needed game time and I would have given it to them first.
“This is going to be an intense year. Rangers will be there and if they are not fighting in court they will be fighting on the pitch, that is for sure. It is a massive year for both teams.”

In other Celtic news, Frank McAvennie has told Football Insider he expects Hoops to complete centre-half signing this summer.

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