Colby Donovan’s first Celtic start was a memorable one.
The 19-year-old academy product was thrown in by Brendan Rodgers at Rugby Park due to injuries for Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston.
He played the full 90 minutes in a fiercely competitive contest, which ended in a dramatic Celtic win thanks to Kelechi Iheanacho’s penalty.
The Scotland youth international had been set to move to Dundee on loan before the squad situation opened up his first-team pathway.
But after speaking highly of the right-back prior to his first-team debut, Rodgers has continued to praise the youngster after his performance in Ayrshire.
Brendan Rodgers praises Colby Donovan’s ‘fight’
Rodgers has given debut opportunities to plenty of Celtic teenagers, including Ralston, Mikey Johnston and Daniel Kelly.
Donovan is the latest, and given the Northern Irishman’s comments, he may be in with a shout for many more first-team opportunities.
READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers reveals what his feeling was ahead of Kelechi Iheanacho Celtic winner
Speaking to Celtic TV, Rodgers said: “Personality is everything if you want to succeed, especially at the highest level because it’s not the most gifted players that always come through – it’s those guys that are consistent.
“They work hard, and whenever it’s tough in games, they show that personality, and that’s what Colby has. I’ve really liked him since I first seen him.
“People talk about training the way you play – for me you train the way you fight, and that means that you’ll take that mentality into your games and I see that in Colby.
“Every time he trains, he fights, he works, and young players like that, you want to give opportunities to.
“So I’m delighted for him, a Celtic boy who has come through the system, putting him in not an easy task at all. First game on an Astroturf pitch, the weather conditions, but he came through it, and right at the very end he was the one that was in the box making the cross that leads to the penalty.”
Will Colby Donovan remain in Celtic squads?
You can only play with one right-back – so once Ralston and Johnston are back fit, will Donovan remain in the first-team picture?
Johnston discussed the idea of finishing his career at Celtic this week, and given his popularity with the Parkhead faithful, it’s difficult to imagine him being displaced.
Donovan impressed in a brief substitute appearance in the Hoops’ Champions League exit against Kairat Almaty, being noticed as one of the few positives of an unpleasant night overall.
But with such a golden opportunity to prove himself at this level, Donovan’s Celtic future is currently in his hands.
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