Jack Aitchison’s stats at Celtic haven’t been what we perhaps expected when he made his debut.
The young forward became the youngest scorer in Celtic’s history back in 2016. At 16-years and 71 days of age, Aitchison slammed home Celtic’s seventh goal in a massive 7-1 hammering of Motherwell.
It was a debut to remember, but since then, there haven’t been many moments that stand out. Aitchison has made just two further appearances for the first-team. Both have been in a cameo substitute role, and he hasn’t as of yet added to his debut strike.
Nobody expected, given his age, that an impact was going to be made immediately after his debut. He still needed time with the development squad to bulk up and continue his growth. But now, at 19-years of age, it’s time we started seriously looking to push Aitchison to the next level.
At the moment, that next level isn’t at Celtic Park. He’s still to really show that he can become a main player in our first-team. Given the fact that we have the likes of Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard leading the line, Aitchison isn’t ready to battle them as of yet.
Jack Aitchison’s stats need a boost elsewhere
Granted, Celtic have given Aitchison loan spells. He’s been at Dumbarton and Alloa over the last 12 months alone. Combining his two spells together, the striker managed 15 appearances and one goal. Sure, they were hardly rip-roaring successes. But it’s important we’re patient with him.
Both of those spells were Aitchison’s first two away from the club. It also didn’t help that he kept having to return to the reserves and take part in Reserve League action.
It could be worthwhile for Celtic to start finding more options for him at senior level. Aitchison is proving to be far too good for the youth game. In a way, he’s outgrown it at this stage, and it’s time for him to start trying to make it in the professional ranks.
Finding Aitchison a move to a fellow Premiership club may be difficult given his struggles in the Championship so far. But another spell in the second tier against professional clubs will do him a lot more good than staying with the reserves this season. Especially if we can move him out for the full year.
Only then will we truly know the level that Aitchison is currently operating at. He’s outgrown the youths, and it’s time to move on.
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