Watch Celtic youngster Luca Connell produce sheer magic for Queen's Park

By David Walton

March 31, 2021

It was yet another glorious day for Celtic youngster Luca Connell yesterday after securing yet another man-of-the-match performance for Queen’s Park.

Connell is currently spending the rest of the season with the League Two club. He marked his debut last week with an assist and MOTM award before heading away with Republic of Ireland under-21s.

He was back in time for yesterday’s game however, and he again showed what he was all about. This time, however, he got in on the act himself. As part of the 3-0 win at Albion Rovers, Connell netted his first ever senior goal with a superb left-footed effort.

He would also bag another assist, and would end up being voted overwhelmingly by fans as the MOTM:

You can watch his absolute stunner for yourself below. Darting forward in possession of the ball, he lets rip from well over 25 yards out with a dipping effort that lands in the bottom corner. It’s a beautiful piece of technical brilliance:

Luca Connell with more momentum in the last 10 days with Queen’s Park than he’s had in his whole time at Celtic

Already, we’re seeing the major benefits of this loan move. We’re seeing a player’s talent finally able to come out of its shell. A youngster with terrific potential being given a senior platform.

Yes, we all know Connell is of a higher standard than Scottish League Two. It wasn’t long ago he was featuring in the Championship down south. But he’s now getting more momentum and exposure over the last 10 days than he managed in his whole spell at Parkhead.

Connell’s back-to-back MOTM displays sandwiched another morale-boosting outing for him for the Republic of Ireland’s under-21 side. A comeback win in Wales helped increase the momentum he’s building. All of a sudden, he’s a player on absolute fire.

Luca Connell on international duty / (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

It makes you wodner why this wasn’t something we sanctioned back in the summer. Not a move to Queen’s Park especially, but any loan move for Connell. Giving him a full year of this kind of senior football would’ve done him a power of good. He’s no longer 16 or 17 anymore. He’s 20 next month and needs to be playing regularly.

Thankfully, the Spiders have given him the opportunity to do that. Celtic, in return, should have a more confident and battle-hardened player.

The 3-0 win at Albion Rovers ensured Queen’s Park went seven points clear at the top of League Two. Next up? A home clash vs Stirling Albion on Saturday.

In other news, Stan Petrov has provided his reaction to the Scott Brown departure.