Kyle Ure is currently part of Celtic’s pre-season.
Like many of the youngsters being handed a chance this summer, Ure is hoping to make a much-wanted breakthrough into Celtic’s first team under Martin O’Neill.
Making that step up from Celtic’s academy into the first team has been a difficult road for many, with Colby Donovan making a push last season and now putting himself firmly in the picture for the senior side.
However, Donovan’s rise isn’t the norm at Celtic Park, with academy players either not being given a proper chance or heading south to join clubs in England.
Ure is still making that journey up, including being on loan at Ayr United last season, as he told CelticPlayer how he has been pleasantly ‘surprised’ by the quality of the B team, and how those young guns are proving that they belong with the senior side.
What’s the point of Celtic’s Academy?
Should Celtic just give it up as the club seem incapable of making the Academy work.
Kyle Ure bigs up Celtic’s academy during pre-season
“They are thriving,” said Ure about Celtic’s youngsters in pre-season. “They don’t look out of place in training.
“The standards they have got. They are at a club for a reason. When I was injured last season, I did a couple of sessions with the B team.
“I actually know them, but I haven’t seen them up close. I said to Jonny (Hayes) and Stevie Hammell last year that there are a couple of really good ones in the B team.
“I was probably surprised by how good the quality was last year. To see them come up here, training with the first team, not look out of place, not be fazed by it, it’s pleasing to see because I was at that stage at one point.
“When you are coming up to the first team, you are a bit nervous and that. But they come up, and they are fine.”
A clear message to the people in charge at Celtic
Look at Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney and James Forrest. Their importance to Celtic, both now and over the years, has been incredible.
But where is the next McGregor coming from? The rise of the next academy star has slowed down.
The powers that be in the Parkhead boardroom are experts at signing duds again and again, while the B team rots, and they are hardly given a chance by whoever is in the dugout.
That’s why you don’t blame them when they are so quick to move to English clubs.
Whether it’s O’Neill or the next long-term coach at Celtic, they need to start providing these youngsters with proper opportunities, so the next McGregor, Tierney and Forrest come through.
Just listen to Ure’s message.
The quality is there. The players aren’t fazed. Liam Kennedy has already been praised in pre-season, but will he be seen again once the new season starts? The answer is no, which is a crying shame.
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