Who are Neil Lennon’s likely lads and can they make history for Dunfermline by shocking Celtic at Hampden?

Young, gifted and black and white: that just about sums up the Dunfermline side who will go up against Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park.

The Championship club’s progress under Neil Lennon is all the more remarkable for being achieved with a group of players whose best years are ahead of them.

If Lennon picks the team below, they will have an average age of under 25, with striker Andrew Tod and defender Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen the pick of his talented youngsters.

Inexperience very often leads to inconsistency but, in a season that exceeded all expectation, Lennon’s lads made a serious promotion push and knocked three Premiership sides out of the Scottish Cup.

While lifting the trophy is a huge ask, especially after an exhausting play-off schedule, you wouldn’t put it past these over-achieving players. This is how they are likely to line up at the national stadium.

ASTON OXBOROUGH

The Englishman solved Dunfermline’s on-going goalkeeping issues when he joined them on loan from Motherwell in February, so much so that he has been badly missed when his parent club have recalled him. Last week’s Premiership playoff semi-final against Partick Thistle was a case in point.

Lennon will be delighted that the 28-year-old is free to play at Hampden, where he was the hero of Dunfermline’s semi-final win over Falkirk.

JEREMIAH CHILOKOA-MULLEN

If the speculation is anything to go by, this could be Chilokoa-Mullen’s last game for Dunfermline. He was outstanding in their quarter-final victory against Aberdeen, which is perhaps why the Pittodrie club are among a number of clubs watching with interest as his contract expires.

Reared in the academy system at Leeds and Liverpool, he has got better and better since moving to East End Park 15 months ago. The Scotland Under-21 international is a modern, ball-playing centre-half who leads by example.

NURUDEEN ABDULAI

More than just a defender, the 6ft 2in Ghanaian centre-half is an impressive all-rounder who reads the game well, passes the ball efficiently and gets about the pitch.

While Lennon might be tempted to use the 21-year-old as midfield ballast against Celtic, it’s a risky move that would significantly diminish his backline. With Daizen Maeda scampering in behind, Abdulai’s pace and agility will surely be more useful in his customary defensive berth.

KIERAN NGWENYA

Assuming Lennon goes with three central defenders, a set-up that brings the best out of his players, Ngwenya will shore up the left side.

The Glasgow-born, Edinburgh-raised Malawi international, who started his senior career with Aberdeen, was slow to establish himself in the team this season, but he took his chance in December and has not looked back.

The 23-year-old is quick, composed and out of contract in the summer, which has led to interest from clubs north and south of the Border.

MATTY TODD

What a turnaround the homegrown midfielder has enjoyed at East End Park. Lennon didn’t fancy him in the early weeks of the season, and told him so, but the 24-year-old has since knuckled down and become an important player.

A product of the Fife Elite Football Academy, Todd joined Dunfermline in 2019 and established himself as a box-to-box player, but his work this season has been mostly on the right. He produced some outstanding performances during his team’s promotion push.

CHARLIE GILMOUR

Not for nothing is Dunfermline’s midfield lynchpin their players’ player of the year. A selfless, unflappable presence in front of the defence, the Brighton-born player is strong in the tackle, with a range of passing.

He grew up with Arsenal and played for them in the Europa League, but he probably wasn’t quick enough at that level and has spent much of his career in Scotland.

He will be crucial in an area of the pitch that Celtic are expected to dominate.

ALFONS AMADE

The German-born midfielder brings energy and maturity to the middle of the park, where he has developed a strong partnership with Gilmour.

His season dipped either side of the African Cup of Nations, where he played three times for Mozambique, but he has been a key figure in the closing weeks of the season.

At 26, the former Hoffenheim and Oostende player brings valuable experience to Lennon’s side.

ROBBIE FRASER

The former Rangers player has been rewarded for leaving Ibrox and getting game time in the Championship.

After a spell on loan to Livingston, he made a permanent move to Dunfermline last summer, quickly became a fixture at wing-back and was named supporters’ player of the year.

The 23-year-old brings balance to the team, energy down the left and a good delivery, sometimes with an early ball that catches defences by surprise.

CALLUMN MORRISON

If Lennon is tempted to sacrifice one of his first-choice front three for an extra midfielder, Morrison could be the fall guy.

The 26-year-old former Hearts and Falkirk winger didn’t perform well in the semi-final against Falkirk and many question his end product. But he works hard, he runs with the ball and, in that channel down the right, he could be a welcome outlet for Dunfermline when the pressure mounts at Hampden.

CHRIS KANE

A hard-working, selfless striker whose value to teams is often underestimated.

While even he would not pretend to be the most technically gifted, Kane wins fouls, gains territory and provides welcome relief against superior opponents. He has also scored 12 goals this season, not bad for a player who struggled with injuries early in the campaign.

The 31-year-old won a cup double with St Johnstone and clearly knows his way around Hampden.

ANDREW TOD

Quite apart from the 16 goals he has scored in his breakout season with Dunfermline, there is a lot to love about 20-year-old Tod.

Not only does the begoggled striker have an eye for goal, he already understands the subtler nuances of his trade and is equally productive in deeper positions.

He has lost some momentum in recent weeks, thanks partly to injuries and the vicissitudes of youth, but he is more than capable of coming up with a magical moment on the big stage.