The end of Armstrong Okoflex ’s Celtic career was punctuated by frustration at a lack of game time under Neil Lennon.
But his recent form for West Ham United suggests those unhappy times are barely worth a moment’s thought to the young Irishman.
Oxoflex left the Glasgow giants in June 2021 after making just two appearances for the first XI, one of which went viral.
As Lennon’s second time as manager hurtled from one crisis to the next, his tenure was mired in fury and farce.
One such comedy moment arrived in January last year, days after the Dubai debacle that rocked the club. With Celtic suffering from a severely-depleted squad, Oxoflex was on the bench and preparing to come on against Hibs.
The TV cameras panned to the forward, who bizarrely was spotted with AirPods in his ears. But in a further twist, it was later explained he had been listening to Lennon, who was at home isolating.
Whether the advice was sound will likely remain unknown but Okoflex’s cameo never proved the springboard for him and not long after Lennon was sacked, the player was himself on the move.
But only after he had taken to social media in an apparent blast at not getting a game, two and a bit years after the highly-rated youngster had joined Celtic from Arsenal.
But now he is back in the Premier League, or at least its younger brother – the U23s version where he has already clocked up more than 1600 minutes this season while regularly finding the back of the net.
It’s the kind of form that has prompted Carlton Cole, also formerly of the Parkhead parish, to urge Hammers boss David Moyes to promote him to the first team.
After watching his former side take on Liverpool, Cole told the BBC’s Football Daily Podcast : “I was properly screaming at the TV because I just want them to do well.
“I would love to see Armstrong Okoflex, he’s been a revelation in the Under-23s this year.
“He’s got 17 goals in all competitions this season. He’s a goalscorer and I would have loved to see him come off the bench.”
