Celtic have a lot of talent out on loan at other clubs, and they will be keen to show off their capabilities before returning to Parkhead in the next few months.
In the recent past, the examples of Liam Scales, Ryan Christie, Kristoffer Ajer and even club captain Callum McGregor should be enough motivation for budding talent to realise that a successful spell away from Lennoxtown can pave the way for future involvement in the first-team.
There are obvious divergences in this approach as, for some individuals, the opportunity to depart for regular senior minutes amid frustration at their role in the current set-up under Brendan Rodgers can be a shrewd move from both parties.
Taking Mikey Johnston’s flying start to life at West Bromwich Albion as an example, the Republic of Ireland international has registered six goals and one assist in his opening ten appearances [Transfermarkt].
Nevertheless, it would be fair to say that his Celtic future is still up in the air, given the number of openings he has had to establish himself under several managers.
Several others find themselves in this limbo; however, there is one man who has used his time away from Parkhead to put forward a compelling case for inclusion under Rodgers next term.
Bosun Lawal illustrates loan system value for Celtic
Primarily, the Hoops utilise the loan system to provide a platform for emerging prospects to thrive, with Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Bosun Lawal an exemplary illustration of this model.
The 20-year-old has enjoyed plenty of senior football on loan at EFL League One outfit Fleetwood Town, racking up four goals and one assist in 39 appearances this campaign [Transfermarkt].
Intriguingly, Lawal has featured in midfield for much of the season, enjoying something of a positional shift despite being profiled mainly as a central defender by Celtic.
The Dublin-born man can contribute in the forward areas and scored an impressive brace from the engine room in a 4-2 win against Wigan Athletic earlier this month, as seen below.
Per Sofascore, Lawal has excelled in both attacking and defensive metrics, creating five big chances alongside averaging 1.8 tackles, 3.1 clearances and 5.4 ball recoveries per league fixture.
Adept at either side of the game, the former Watford youth has received high praise from manager Charlie Adam, who believes he is a ‘top talent’ with the credentials necessary to become a prominent senior player for Celtic.
Adam stated: “The longer he’s in the building for us, from now until the end of the season, he will definitely make a difference to our team.
“He’s a top talent, but hopefully, with the journey we’re on and the support that we can give him, he goes back to Celtic next season, and he goes and competes for a position because I believe he’s got the right credentials to be a Celtic player.”
Encouragingly for Lawal, Rodgers has already signalled his intent to give young players a chance to rise through the ranks at Parkhead, something that can only bode well for his future at the club.
On a wider point, his excellent form is an indicator that the loan system can still offer a valuable outlet to Celtic moving forward.
You learn a lot about the character of a player when they have to adapt to a different work environment, and Lawal has made the most of his time south of the border, potentially edging himself into the frame for a role in Rodgers’ squad come 2024/25.
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