Celtic boss Lennon to 'deal with' Elyounoussi for reportedly using mobile phone during Sparta Prague defeat

The Norwegian winger was allegedly picked up by the BT Sport cameras checking his mobile during the Scottish outfit’s 4-1 defeat.

Elyounoussi was taken off after 59 minutes of the Europa League clash at Celtic Park and replaced by Leigh Griffiths.

Asked about Elyounoussi being on his phone during the defeat, Lennon said: “He better not have been.

“That’s something I’ll deal with."

Elyounoussi also came in for criticism from former Celtic striker Chris Sutton after the incident, who said the Saints loanee should be fined.

Working as a pundit on the game for BT, Sutton said: “There’s a player sitting in the stands on his mobile phone.

“That is totally, totally, unacceptable.

“That’s scandalous. I mean, is he committed to the cause, is he committed to the club?

“Totally unacceptable. I’d fine him two weeks wages for that.”

Czech Republic side Sparta Prague had a clutch of players missing through injury and COVID-19 issues but they took the lead in the 26th minute through Lukas Julis who scored a second just before the interval.

Parkhead substitute Griffiths pulled a goal back in the 64th minute but Julis tapped in a breakaway goal for his hat-trick before substitute Ladislav Krejci headed in a fourth in the final minute to complete a dispiriting night for Lennon’s side, who have one point from nine at the bottom of Group H.

Northern Irishman Lennon said: “It’s unacceptable. A lack of application, lack of hunger.

“There has to be a culture change. I have to change it quickly and the players have to change quickly because it’s not acceptable.

“I need to get them more hungry, more on point, back to basics. We didn’t do basics well enough, didn’t use our bodies, didn’t run. All the things that Sparta did.

“We need to be far more aggressive as individuals. As a manager I have to accept responsibility but players need to look at themselves as individuals.”