John Barnes has urged Celtic interim boss John Kennedy NOT to blood youngsters into the first-team this term - as the club's disaster season could DESTROY their progress.

Fans have been clamouring for academy players to be given the chance, with the season over and Rangers champions in waiting. The likes of Karamoko Dembele and Armstrong Okoflex have not been afforded much game time this campaign, with both appearing only during the club's Covid crisis back in January after their Dubai return.

With the league already lost, supporters have wanted to see their kids given opportunities, but ex-boss Barnes fears the nightmare year could hinder their development in the long run. He believes further defeats could be bad for the players' mindset and cause further struggles down the line. Speaking to BonusCodeBets, Barnes said: "You have to be careful because young players coming into a team that's struggling and losing matches, is not going to be good for the confidence. 

"So if you've got to bring young players in and they're going to lose matches, that isn’t going to help them. I would rather in difficult times go for experience players - players that can handle it. Then when things are going well, bring one or two youngsters in, but you don't want players coming into a team that's struggling or not playing well. 

"And the fans need some good news to win matches, they're not going to win the league, and this could actually destroy the young players, rather than helping them. So I think that they should go back to the experienced players, just for this season. And review the situation and bring up some of the youngsters.” 

The next Hoops boss will have plenty of decisions to make, but fans don't yet know which coach will be in the dugout at the beginning of next season.

For Barnes, there is only one choice. A manager who knows the club and the city inside out. The only problem? He's already ruled himself out of the running.

Barnes added: "I think that Paul Lambert would be a great choice for Celtic - and he’s just left Ipswich so he’s available. I know he’s said he’s not interested but it’ll be interesting to see what happens nextHe’s a Celtic hero, an experienced manager who knows the club, knows the team and knows the fans. 

“Furthermore, the fans will give him time and they'll support him. And, without being disrespectful, I don't think Celtic, or Rangers, or any other team in Scotland for that matter, at a stage, particularly from a financial point of view, to be able to attract the best managers in the world - and nor do they need to.  

“They need to be realistic and find a manager that suits the team and someone they respect and look up to, to a degree, and therefore, Paul Lambert would be a fantastic choice."