Celtic have always been very proud of their academy, but there are some fundamental flaws with it that are stopping the club from finding the next big star.
Since 2010, only four players (James Forrest, Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston) have made 100 or more appearances for the club.
Colby Donovan is the only youngster who seems to have established himself in the first-team after coming through the ranks, but there are three obvious problems that need addressing sooner rather than later.
Do Celtic need to offer more first-team chances to their academy players?
Signing too many squad players
This summer will require an almighty rebuild to fix a squad that has been bloated by players surplus to requirements.
Odin Thiago Holm’s loan to Valerenga perfectly encapsulated that, as did Marco Tilio’s eventual permanent sale to Rapid Vienna as Celtic being a club who hang on to players for too long.
Finlay Hale, Kyle Ure, Samuel Isiguzo and others are already at the club and understand the Hoops way of life.
They’re not starters but they can certainly help to flesh out the squad and allow the Hoops to go out for quality, instead of quantity.
Losing players before giving them a chance
Dara Jikiemi’s pending move to Liverpool is another example that the Bhoys are losing talents because they are not giving them a clear pathway.
Ben Gannon-Doak, Rocco Vata, Karamoko Dembele, Daniel Cummings and so many more have all decided that their future is away from Celtic Park and that they can kick on elsewhere.
Name one Celtic player that the club should have never sold
Not everyone has found success at their new club, but this is a growing trend that is constantly biting the Hoops in the back.
Celtic B are unable to compete in the Lowland League
Once again, Celtic B fell to defeat in the Lowland League to leave them ninth in the table.
They were beaten 3-2 by Albion Rovers as the Green Brigade turned up to show their support for the side but in reality, they witnessed one of the key problems with the academy.
Competing in the fifth tier of Scottish football, you would still expect this side to be in and around the top of the league. Instead, they are midtable and some of the players look well off the pace.
Those playing need to find a perfect medium of playing competitive football, but also improving so that they can be called upon in a first-team setting if required.
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