Bosun Lawal's Celtic future and the next steps

By John McGinley

July 17, 2022

It’s always difficult for young players to make a breakthrough at any club, but at Celtic, it can be especially troublesome.

With the pressures of title races, trophy hunts and European ambitions always prioritised, the environment is harsh when getting the minutes needed to earn the trust of the coaching staff and supporters.

Ultimately, it usually results in limited opportunities, with the window to truly impress in a first-team context often crammed into to the summer months at pre-season training camps and in friendlies.

That’s been the experience for Bosun Lawal at Celtic recently, and it’s time to see how he can perform out on loan.

It’s become clear this summer that Lawal is caught in an awkward spot between two realities – he’s too talented and has too much potential to be playing in the Lowland League at 19, but he isn’t yet ready for senior action under Ange Postecoglou.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s been worthwhile to expose him to our recent friendlies, but he’s not yet at the level needed to provide reliable back-up for our starting defenders.

Lawal still has two years on his contract, and it has long been said that he is rated by the coaching staff at Lennoxtown. He has the time to make a first-team impact eventually.

For now, the club picking out a prime loan for him seems like the best bet for consistent progress over the coming season. Somewhere he can play regularly, ideally in a team that has a philosophy of playing out of their own half.

We know Celtic can use development loans to their advantage, and for a player like Lawal, it could be exactly what he needs to take his fledgling career to the next level.

Returning to the B team is viable, too, especially as that outfit will most closely mirror what Ange is looking for at senior level tactically, but at least an initial six months in a good environment elsewhere should be the way to go here.

In other news, Matt O’Riley addresses Celtic pre-season mistakes.