As Celtic prepare for their upcoming season in Portugal, the B team head to Ireland to face Sligo Rovers in a pre-season friendly.
The youngsters will be without the likes of Rocco Vata, Bruno Davidson and Tobi Oluwayemi and Darren O’Dea has highlighted that whilst he has been delighted with the preparations so far, he will approach the match with caution.
O’Dea said [Irish Mirror], “Pre-season has been good. This is a really, really young group we have got.
“So although we are working the players extremely hard, you are a tiny bit conscious of the fact they are still at a very young age.
“They maybe can’t handle the physical loads as well as a senior player can. So we are trying to be careful in how we do things.”
And I can understand why. The B team will be kicking off their Lowland League season on the 22nd of July at home against the Caledonian Braves. That is then followed up four days later with another home tie against Cowdenbeath before the youngsters get a six-day break when they entertain Gala Fairydean Rovers. [Scottish Lowland Football League]
So a cautious approach is the correct one by O’Dea and Stephen McManus as the risk of injury at the start of the season is a lot higher as the youngsters look to build their fitness.
But this match also holds a special significance between the two clubs. Celtic legend, Sean Fallon is a descendant of the area and that was recognised by the Sligo Rovers manager, John Russell.
Russell said, “It promises to be a good occasion for both clubs here at The Showgrounds.
“I know there is a good history between the clubs with various players or staff having played or managed both here and in Scotland.”
With many fans looking forward to seeing the return of the first team to training, I am certainly looking forward to seeing what the next crop of youngsters can produce for the B team.
Celtic fans love nothing more than seeing young players be promoted from the youth ranks and make it into the first team. We have seen glimpses of this with young Rocco Vata and Joey Dawson getting a taste of first-team action last season. Let’s hope we see more of the same for the new one coming up.
In other news, “Maybe Celtic’s that place for him” – Neil Lennon on recent links with Donny van de Beek
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