Ian McCall says it's up to Partick Thistle to protect Gallagher Lennon - son of Celtic hero Neil - from additional scrutiny.
The Jags boss put the teenager on the bench as his team lost 2-0 to Falkirk in the SPFL Trust Trophy. He is well aware that through no fault of his own, Lennon will get more attention due to his dad being a former manager at Celtic and Hibs, currently the boss of Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia.
McCall can't guarantee him a career in football as it is too early to determine whether he has the ability to forge a lengthy career. But in the short-term, he will need shielded from the potential of extra eyes upon him. He told the Sunday Mail: “All I will say is that he is an absolute credit to his mum and dad. He is a great kid. Whether he will make it in football, who knows?
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“But as a boy he is terrific. We will deal with any of that [scrutiny] when it comes. I wouldn’t have been scared to put him on during Friday’s game but we had already used our subs.”
Experienced midfielder Stuart Bannigan says the youngster has the support of the Partick Thistle changing room as he develops.
He added: "I think it will be harder for him. But he has been in a few times and played a few pre-season games. He’s done really well."
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