Celtic have more competition at right-back, and it’s coming from within.
Whilst Callum McGregor wears the captain’s armband, as well as Kieran Tierney and James Forrest coming through the ranks, there is a lack of quality being brought through the academies in the Scottish game.
That’s why it’s great to see Colby Donovan earning starts for Celtic, as well as proving he belongs after a recent run of games.
This stems from the injuries suffered by starting right-back Alistair Johnston, as well as the back-up option Anthony Ralston, but what happens when they return?
Colby Donovan trying to push ahead of Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston
Celtic travel to Belgrade on Wednesday night for their Europa League opener, and Ralston is back in training after missing a few weeks through injury.
Charlie Mulgrew told Go Radio that there is a possibility that Donovan can ‘take over’ from Ralston because he is ‘making his way towards that.’
But Mulgrew made it clear that he simply can’t see the Celtic youngster pushing Johnston out of the way, and ‘I don’t think he is ever’ going to do it whilst the Canada international is in Glasgow.
“Credit to him,” said Mulgrew. “I didn’t quite think, after the Kilmarnock game, he had cemented his place as second choice ahead of Ralston.
“I don’t think he is ever going to take over Johnston whilst he is at the club. But can he take over Ralston and be that second choice? I think he is now making his way towards that. He has had two good games. Against Partick Thistle, he was really good.
“Then, can he go on and kind of cement that place, because that’s what you need to do as a young boy. When your chance comes along through a couple of injuries, the door opens up, and you need to take it. You don’t get another go at it. You need to take it, and he has definitely done that.”
Donovan’s rise after struggling for game time for Celtic’s under-18s
It’s not about the setbacks, but how you deal with them, and Mulgrew touched upon how Donovan has climbed up the hard way.
The former defender praised Donovan’s ‘resilience’, including how, only a few years ago, he couldn’t get a game for Celtic’s under-18s.
But fast forward to the present, and he is more than proving that he firmly belongs in the famous green and white colours.
“The interesting thing about it is, he wasn’t getting a game for the under-18s,” said Mulgrew. “Two years ago.
“So, it just shows you that resilience. It’s the same story as Kieran Tierney. He wasn’t getting a game for the Celtic B team. And then, he got brought up to the first team.
“It’s just a lesson to young boys that you might be second in the B teams, but you just need to keep that resilience going.
“You grow at different levels and different stages. It’s who can stick at it, and look at this young lad now. A Celtic player – a time where he can find himself at right-back for a while.”
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