Celtic are enjoying a phenomenal season under Brendan Rodgers and good news appears to pour out of the club on a weekly basis. The latest developments causing a buzz at the Glasgow have been the inclusion of some young teenage talent in the first team this past weekend.
Young Michael Johnston made his debut in the first team, starting the match against St Johnstone and performing excellently, even assisting the opening goal.
Anthony Ralston also got a chance to impress and completed his first full 90 minutes on the right hand side of the Celtic defence, never really putting a foot wrong.
Rodgers is potentially just scratching the surface too, with a number of young players excelling for the Hoop’s development squad this season. They won the Scottish Youth Cup and came close to winning the league too.
Here are three more young Celtic stars that deserve a chance between now and the end of the season…
Jack Aitchison
Currently on international duty with the Scotland U17s squad at the European Championships, but since their stay at that tournament has come to an early end, Aitchison should be around for some upcoming fixtures.
He’s excelled for the young Hoops recently scoring in the Glasgow Cup final and showing great form in the Scottish Youth Cup final too. He also scored for Scotland in the aforementioned tournament in their opening game.
He is of course Celtic’s youngest ever player and goalscorer, coming off the bench last season against Motherwell. He has minutes this season too, appearing off the bench vs Hearts earlier this year to win a penalty.
Aitchison has bags of potential and if available Celtic fans would love to check in his progress before the end of the season.
Calvin Miller
Calvin Miller has made great progress this season in the development squad, eventually making his first team debut earlier this season at left-back.
More comfortable in an attacking role on the left flank, it was his performance in the Scottish Youth Cup final recently that provided the victory, getting on the scoresheet twice in the 3-0 win over Rangers.
With the likes of Scott Sinclair and Patrick Roberts in wide positions at Celtic, it’s exceptionally difficult for Miller to make the transition into the first team but at least deserves a chance to show what he can do between now and the end of the season.
Sinclair has had a long season and could do with a game or two on the sidelines to recharge and it would provide the perfect opportunity for Rodgers to see if Miller has what it takes to make an impact next season.
Mark Hill
Once on the fringes of the Hamilton Academical first team at the age of just 13, Mark Hill has been one of the driving forces of the current development side at Celtic. Also in good form at Hampden recently in that Scottish Youth Cup final, Hill is a midfielder who is showing growing maturity and consistency at the age of 18.
The combative youth player also has a hard time making the transition given the abundance of midfield talent at the club but has progressed nicely after stints training with the first team.
He’s been a stand out for Tommy McIntyre’s side and is surely knocking on the door of a first team appearance given the likes of Anthony Ralston and Michael Johnston are now getting chances.
Refusing the chance to join Manchester United to play with Celtic, it’s clear he fancies his chances of making it at the club. Does Brendan Rodgers feel the same way?