Believe it or not, the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League kicks off tonight with the first qualifying round – as teams go through the knockout gauntlet for a place in the money-spinning group stages of the competition.
Celtic don’t enter the competition until September, with the draw for those all-important groups coming at the end of August. But many teams will have already played before that, including reigning Irish champions Shamrock Rovers.
Rovers won the 2022 edition of the Premier Division across the Irish Sea and are currently top of this year’s table too, four points clear of St Patrick’s Athletic.
And one Bhoys youngster – Johnny Kenny – is very much involved. He has a very good chance of making an appearance against Icelandic title holders Breidablik at Tallaght Stadium tonight.
The striker has been involved in all but two of Rovers’ matches since he made the move on loan earlier this year. If he doesn’t start he’ll likely feature off the bench.
Kenny had a scoring burst of five goals in his first 12 matches but he hasn’t hit the back of the net since April and will be desperate to get back on the scoresheet in such a big game for the club. Tests like tonight’s will very much be on the radar of staff at Celtic, too.
Signed from Sligo Rovers in January 2022, Kenny hasn’t had any exposure to senior Celtic football yet but did make appearances for the B team before a loan move to Queen’s Park.
The 20-year-old talent is contracted to Celtic until 2026 so there is still plenty of time for him to impress either out on loan or back at the Bhoys. The very best of luck to him this evening and in next week’s second leg.
In other news, “He was constantly messaging me”; Postecoglou on interactions with Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.
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