IT'S a case of three strikers and you are out – or in – the Celtic side.

Neil Lennon is 
assessing what to do with the hat-trick of hitmen looking to step into Gary Hooper's scoring shoes.

Anthony Stokes has still to sign a new deal securing his future at the club. And, as things stand, the man who turns 25 on Thursday would be free to negotiate a Bosman move out of Parkhead from January.

Amido Balde has been brought in to provide that "something different" in 
attack which Lennon has been seeking since he took over as manager three years ago.

After a difficult start to his Hoops career, the £2million Portuguese signing finally got his name on the scoresheet with the equaliser in Celtic's 2-1 friendly win at Brentford on Saturday, young defender Callum McGregor grabbing the winner early in the second half.

Tony Watt is the third piece of this trio of players who are vying to make sure the steps they take over the next few weeks are in the direction of a start in Lennon's team, and not towards the fringes of his squad.

That latter is where the 19- year-old spent too much time last season after taking 
centre stage with his winning goal against Barcelona in 
November. But it is not what happened then, only what happens next which is uppermost in the mind of Watt, as it is with Stokes and Balde.

Hooper's protracted exit from the club has done nothing to clear the picture in terms of who will be leading the line as the season gets into gear.

If the 25-year-old target for QPR and Norwich has recovered from the groin injury which ruled him out of the final pre-
season games in Germany and the first leg of the Champions League qualifier against Cilftonville last week, Lennon must decide if he is in the right frame of mind to play in tomorrow's return tie with the club from Belfast.

History tells Lennon that Hooper needs games to get up to full speed and sharpness.

Unless he is sold before hand, Hooper could be a very important player in the third qualifying round ties against Elfsborg just over a week away.

But there is the constant threat that the Englishman might get the move back to his homeland at any time, so it is equally important game time is given to those who will still be around and 
required to fill the void.

Lennon is also looking to bring in another striker, which would further increase his options while also adding to the uncertainty of who will be the go-to man for goals in the crucial first part of the season.

Stokes is in pole position, having led the line well in Belfast last week, even if he was not one of the three goal-scorers on the night.

The Republic of Ireland cap needs to feel he is under pressure for his starting place to be at his best.

Perhaps the fact he is still waiting to be offered terms he believes reflect his position within the structure of the club – he knocked back Celtic's first offer of a new deal before the end of last season – will spur Stokes onto the consistency of performance which Lennon wants to see from him before he becomes entrusted with the responsibility of 
being the main striker.

Watt is another who has been left in no doubt what is required and 
expected of him if the back-up plan of sending him out on loan is not be activated before the end of next month.

The manager said: "He's still a young boy. He has the 
makings of a really good player, but there's a rawness about him that needs polishing off."

St Mirren have already had a request to take the teenager for six months knocked back by Lennon.

But the Hoops boss 
believes Watt needs to find more maturity, both on and off the park.

If he does not show clear signs of finding this while part of the Parkhead 
set-up, then he will be 
allowed to go out on loan to get the game time Lennon hopes will accelerate the transition from boy to man.

Having backed his judgement with £2m of the club's hard-earned money, 
Lennon is prepared to show a bit more patience with Balde.

The 22-year-old has looked off the pace in the warm-up games he played in Germany and Austria, and was not deemed ready to take any part in the first leg against Cliftonville, despite the Hoops' healthy lead.

Lennon hopes his goal at Brentford will help the big striker find his feet, and a home debut tomorrow night – perhaps coming on from the bench – might act as the blast to remove the torpor which has been so evident in his performances to date.

"Amido looked rusty in Germany earlier in pre-
season, but he gives us a
totally different dimension in terms of the way we play," said Lennon. "We've lacked that kind of direct player for a number of years."

In the coming weeks, 
opportunity knocks for Balde, as it does for Stokes and Watt.

What they do in these formative weeks of the season could determine how the rest of their campaign pans out.

Any one of them can make huge strides towards establishing themselves as a No.1 pick in the side Lennon will rely upon to get the season off to a successful start, both in Europe and domestically.

But, should any of this trio falter, they could find they face a long haul back to get into the manager's plans.