Peter Grant urges Celtic 24-year-old to ‘step up’, suggests teammate could be ‘moving on’

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The wide positions at Celtic became a bit of a talking point this week after Mikey Johnston scored for the Republic of Ireland.

The 24-year-old is yet to feature under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic this season, but he was out proving his worth for Ireland in their Euro 2024 qualifier – Shay Given was left impressed.

Either way, that got Bhoys legend Peter Grant discussing the wingers at the club, including highly-rated star, Rocco Vata.

Peter Grant says he has been ‘impressed’ with what he has seen from the 18-year-old, but expressed worry that he could be ‘moving on’, as he told Go Radio.

There is a chance that Celtic’s rising star will leave, his contract expires in 2024, so something has got to give sooner rather than later.

Rocco Vata is yet to feature for Celtic this season, after playing a few games towards the back end of the last campaign.

Rocco Vata at Celtic

“The only thing he (Mikey Johnston) has got in his favour is that he worked under Brendan Rodgers prior,” said Grant. “I think it’s time for him to step up.

“Palma I have been impressed with. You think ‘where is he (Johnston) going to play?’ because that’s where I would see his position.

“I have been impressed when I have seen young Rocco Vata. But he seems to be moving on going with reports in newspapers and whatever.

“I like him because I have seen in pre-season, he played on the right-hand side, played as a right winger actually, and he went the outside of the fullback and put great crosses in.

“So, it will be interesting to see if he stays with Celtic. But you are just reading reports that something is up in the air.”

Will Rocco Vata stay?

If Celtic can extend the young Irishman’s contract, then it would be a brilliant piece of business, both in terms of financial longevity and the levels he can hit at Parkhead.

It needs to be noted that, from the club’s perspective, offers were rejected for Vata in the summer, including from English Premier League side, Nottingham Forest.

Surely, that only happened because there is some form of confidence from within that he will put pen to paper on a new deal.

If he does extend his stay, then Rodgers is a perfect manager for the player to develop his game and take it to the next level, especially with Champions League football being played at Celtic and it looks likely that it will be the same case next season.