Celtic Boss Neil Lennon To 'Deal With' Mohamed Elyounoussi After He Is Spotted On His Phone After Being Substituted

Celtic winger Mohamed Elyounoussi is set to feel the wrath of manager Neil Lennon after going on his phone during last night's 4-1 defeat to Sparta Prague.

After some strong showings in the Europa League so far, the Norwegian was hooked in the 59th minute as Celtic suffered a third consecutive home defeat but it was what he did in the stands that has caused a serious stir.

BT Sport cameras picked up Elyounoussi, on loan from Southampton, checking his mobile while the rest of the match was happening.

It wasn't a great look for him and when Lennon was told of his player's antics in a BT post-match interview where he was clearly seething, he replied: "Well he better not have been.

"So again, that's something I'll deal with."

In his press conference, Lennon added that he "will have to take a look at it and take it from there and get his side of it".

Lennon will decide whether to take action but his former Hoops teammate Chris Sutton slammed Elyounoussi and believes he deserves to be fine for checking his phone.

Speaking as a pundit on BT Sport, Sutton said: "What I question is the player's commitment. There's a player this evening sitting in the stands on his phone.

"That is totally unacceptable.

"That's scandalous. Is he committed to the cause? Is he committed to the club? Totally unacceptable.

"I'd fine him two weeks wages for that.

"I've sat in the dressing room for four or five years with Neil Lennon, I know what his attitude is, I know what he'd feel about that. You're in it together, people talk about team ethic, is that a team ethic?

"That's a selfish, self-centred, egotistical individual who doesn't care about the rest of his team-mates."

However, Elyounoussi has since responded to Sutton, claiming he was merely checking for other updates on AC Milan vs Lille - the other game in Celtic's group.

Image: PA

First of all, this is unacceptable from me. I have talked to both the coach and the captain and the case is dead between us.

He told VG: "In any case, it is stupid of me to put myself in that situation. I lie down and take the punishment I'll now possibly get.

"The phone is just out of pocket. I have warnings from Milan-Lille, the second match in our group, and I just wanted to check the result in that match.

"I heard what Sutton commented and that is 100 percent wrong. On the contrary. I am very dedicated."

Topics: Football News, Celtic, Football, Europa League, Neil Lennon

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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