The 6 loan players returning to Celtic this summer; big decisions to be made

By Lewis Laird

May 18, 2022

Heading into the summer transfer window, the Celtic support’s focus has now turned to who might arrive at the club this summer.

Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff will be looking closely at new options he can add to his squad ahead of their first season in the Champions League next campaign.

However, a few players will also be returning to the club in the summer after spending a spell out on loan across the 2021/22 season.

In total, Celtic has 13 players out on loan this season. But, only six will return and report to Lennoxtown as several players’ contracts at Parkhead come to an end.

Players such as Conor Hazard will also remain out on loan at HJK Helsinki, with the Finnish continuing right through the summer.

So, he is a quick rundown of the players expected to return to the club within the next few weeks.

Ross Doohan

The young goalkeeper spent last season out on loan at English League Two side Tranmere Rovers, under the management of Micky Mellon – a familiar name to Scottish Football fans last season.

Doohan’s spell down south was up and down, enjoying a period as Rovers number one during the season. He made 34 appearances, keeping 14 clean sheets.

There were calls from Tranmere supporters at one stage to sign him permanently. However, he was replaced by the veteran stopper Joe Murphy by the end of the season.

Having signed a one-year extension before heading out on loan last summer, Doohan will now return to the club and work alongside the several goalkeepers currently at the club.

It remains to be seen if his future is at Parkhead going forward.

Scott Robertson

The midfielder headed out on his third loan south of the border, joining English League One side Crewe Alexandra last summer.

It started off well for the highly-rated 20-year old, with Crewe supporters and fans of other clubs raving about his performances in the side.

However, injuries had a big part to play in impacting his time on the pitch for the struggling side, who were relegated from the third tier of English Football.

His loan was cut short back in March after Robertson decided to have surgery on his current injury in order to be back in time for pre-season with the club.

Coming into the final year of his contract at Parkhead, this pre-season could be a decisive one for his future in the first team under Ange Postecoglou.

Luca Connell

Connell is another midfield player who is returning to the club and heading into the final year of his contract with the Hoops.

The 21-year old enjoyed his first entire season with Queens Park last season, and it ended on a high with the Spiders being promoted to the Scottish Championship through the play-offs.

There is a lot to be impressed about with Connell’s ability and his technical strengths on the ball. However, he has only played a handful of friendlies for the club in his time here.

It is another make or break summer for the young Irishman, and with the departure of Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic, you would imagine there is no better time to try and impress Ange Postecoglou.

Liam Shaw

Liam Shaw’s move to fellow Scottish Premiership side Motherwell looked like the ideal loan for the young midfielder.

Despite the Steelmen rounding the season off by securing European Football, it wasn’t the greatest of times for the former Sheffield Wednesday man.

Shaw made just seven appearances for the Well across the second half of the campaign, with only two of those coming from the start.

Another loan move feels like the best move for the 21-year old heading into next season. But, Postecoglou may be keen to take him to pre-season, similarly to last campaign.

Adam Montgomery

Many fans were intrigued to see how Adam Montgomery got on during his spell with the Pittodrie side when he agreed a deadline day loan move in January.

The left-sided youngster had come off a good start to the season, regularly featuring for Ange Postecoglou’s first team.

However, his second half of the season wouldn’t be as successful at the struggling Aberdeen due to an injury which kept him out for around two months.

Montgomery is arguably the player who was closest to the first team, who headed out on loan last season. So, it will be interesting to see his involvement under the Celtic manager heading into the 2022/23 campaign.

Osaze Urhoghide

Urhoghide’s future at the club is still to officially be decided, with Oostende having an option to buy on the defender. However, he currently remains a Celtic player.

Having made just one appearance last season, and the club including the option to buy deal for the former Sheffield Wednesday youngster, it admittedly doesn’t look too promising.

His spell in Belgium allowed Urhogide to play seven games, but Oostende couldn’t push for European Football in the same fashion they did last campaign.

If he is to return to Celtic Park within the next few weeks, it will be interesting to see if he is involved going forward or whether the club will be looking to offload the defender after only signing him during last summer’s transfer window.

Postecoglou still has some transfer business to conduct during the summer. However, it will be far less chaotic in comparison to last year.

Pre-season could give some of these players the chance to try and break into the 56-year old’s side, which enjoyed great success, lifting two trophies last campaign.

But, the Celtic manager has shown in the past how ruthless he can be, which could play a big part in their future at Parkhead.

In other news, Celtic trio set to face Neymar and Vinicius Jr next month in glamour int’l friendly.