The situation regarding Celtic youngsters such as the recently recalled from loan Scott Robertson grew more baffling last night.
Neil Lennon’s team announcement didn’t include many of the youngsters that came into the equation during last week’s self-isolation farce.
You’d expect that.
However, having specifically brought Robertson back to the club from a successful spell at Gillingham, to not then give him a single minute of action nor have him on the bench, is just ridiculous.
Robertson was talked up by Gavin Strachan twice last week in the build-up to the first Livingston match, yet he was an unused substitute on Saturday. Last night he didn’t even make the match squad.
The Academy graduate played 19 times for the Gills this season and was well-liked by Steve Evans.
Celtic clearly think it’s the appropriate time for him to get regular first-team football, or they wouldn’t have decided to let him go for the season during the summer transfer window.
So why is he in Glasgow? If he isn’t ready for Celtic action, he should still be in England learning his trade.
The club are about to enter a period of rebuilding and progressing players like Robertson into the first-team will be vital. Yet we seem intent on messing with their development.
More Celtic youngsters need a loan
Robertson isn’t the only one either. The decision to persist with Shane Duffy at centre-back despite a series of horrendous performances that aren’t getting better is short-sighted when we could be playing someone like Stephen Welsh.
Duffy likely won’t be at Celtic beyond this season. At least, I hope he isn’t. Why not give his game time to a player who at least has some sort of potential?
Welsh may not be the answer either, but he’s barely been given a chance. The league is over – everyone can see it. It does little harm to play Welsh now, especially when Duffy is blundering his way through matches.
Welsh is now 20 but only has a handful of appearances to his name. That’s not ideal. He needs match practice whether it’s at Celtic or elsewhere.
The same could be said for others such as Luca Connell, Barry Coffey and Euan Henderson, who are stuck in limbo at Lennoxtown.
In other news, Lennon comments on Celtic away games lead to SFA letter being sent out.
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