Ange Postecoglou's promising first-team timeline for Celtic talents coming through Lennoxtown

By John McGinley

January 17, 2023

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou believes some of the young talents at Lennoxtown can start to make an impact at the first-team level over the six to 12 months.

Postecoglou was speaking about the B team in response to a question about Matthew Anderson at today’s media conference.

The young left-back has put pen to paper on a deal that keeps him at the Bhoys until 2025, fending off interest from clubs in England.

Postecoglou said [Celtic FC]: “Yeah, I’m really happy. He’s one of a number there now that you’ll find over the course of the next six to 12 months they’ll start beginning to make an impact at first-team level. I really believe that.

“I think that the work Darren O’Dea and Stephen McManus are doing at the moment is outstanding. We’ve already had Bosun Lawal and Rocco Vata with us but there’s guys like Matthew, Ben Summers and a couple of others.

“I’m in constant dialogue with the guys about how they are going and I’m seeing with my own eyes there’s improvement there. So, it’s great Matthew’s committed himself to the club. He’s one we’ve got high hopes for.

“It’s about now giving him an opportunity but also him grasping that opportunity in his growth. We’ve seen with these talented young players there’s still a way to go for them to make it but he’s got a great attitude, he works hard at training and he wants to improve. I have no doubt before too long he’ll get the opportunity he’s worked hard for.”

This is all pretty promising stuff. It seems there has been genuine progress made on the B team front since Postecoglou came into the club, especially this season.

When he arrived we were haemorrhaging young talent to bigger leagues on a consistent basis and while Ben Doak left for Liverpool last term, hopes are high we can start to retain excellent prospects.

Tying Anderson down is part of that, while the manager has shown willingness to give hungry young players such as Vata minutes and opportunities.

Hopefully it all starts to pay off even more visibly throughout 2023.

In other news, Celtic transfer latest: Nothing imminent in or out despite rush of reports.