Armstrong Oko-Flex and Jack Aitchison filmed in pre-season training with Celtic

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Celtic’s brilliant behind the scenes training video showed yet more youngsters training with the first-team squad.

The Hoops posted several training videos when they returned to pre-season training on Monday. Karamoko Dembele was spotted in one of them, as he managed to stay in with the first-team after playing and training with them at the end of last season.

But, in the new video posted by Celtic yesterday, both Armstrong Oko-Flex and Jack Aitchison were also in with the big boys. Both men are pitting in the hard yards as they try to prove to Neil Lennon that they deserve a chance.

It further proves Celtic’s ambition to push more youths up into the first-team. It’s something the Hoops have seriously started putting emphasis on over the last couple of years.

Will they get their opportunities in upcoming friendlies?

It’s a big boost for Oko-Flex and Aitchison that they’re in there at the moment. It shows that both are highly-rated by the club. Aitchison especially will be delighted after a failed stint at Alloa Athletic during the second-half of last season.

All youngsters currently with the first-team will be eyeing up a seat on the plane to Austria. Celtic will head for their pre-season training camp next week, where they’ll play three pre-season friendly matches. The likes of Oko-Flex and Aitchison will be craving an opportunity to impress further in those matches.

Celtic have also yet to reveal what their plans are for the reserve squad next season. Head of Youth Development Chris McCart said before the end of the season that the club were exploring all possible options (The Scotsman).

The likes of Rangers, Kilmarnock, and Hibernian have all pulled out of the Reserve League after just one season. Given the lack of games in a campaign, Celtic could probably do with doing the same. They haven’t confirmed that’s what they’ll do, however, with no plan for next season having been made official.

The likes of Aitchison falls into the bracket of players who have outgrown the youth levels but aren’t yet ready for consistent game-time at Celtic. He’ll be itching to prove that isn’t the case in pre-season training of course.

As for Oko-Flex, he’s still waiting to make his senior bow. He hasn’t featured in any Celtic match, be it a friendly or not. Should he get his chance in one of the friendlies over the next two weeks, it will be a huge step for him.