Celtic player moves to SPFL club on emergency loan to cover international call

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Celtic have sent a young player out on loan to help a Scottish League One club out.

The Hoops have sanctioned an emergency loan for one of their B team regulars after head of academy Chris McCart and goalkeeping coach Colin Meldrum stepped in to make it happen.

Meldrum in particular would have had a big say as Inverness Caledonian Thistle made contact with Celtic to ask for help in taking a goalkeeper to the Caledonian Stadium to accommodate an international call-up.

• READ MORE: All 12 Celtic stars on March international duty and how to watch their games live

Aidan Rice leaves Celtic for Inverness CT on emergency loan

Young stopper Aidan Rice has joined ICT for just over a week after the SPFL green-lit their emergency efforts to bring in a backup stopper after they had their other goalie, Musa Dibaga, called up for Gambia’s squad.

Dibaga has played 29 times this season for his club but is a major part of Scott Kellacher’s side. So when the 24-year-old learned he would be asked to head away with his country for games against Kenya and Ivory Coast, ICT acted quickly.

Kellachar thanked Celtic’s staff for being accommodating as he told the Inverness Courier: “We’ve got young Aidan in for one match, which is ideal – Chris McCart and Colin Meldrum have been brilliant in helping us out.

Rice Celtic B record this season in UEFA Youth League

The coach also spoke positively of Rice’s first session, adding: “The young kid came in today and trained, and did ever so well. It’s a big gap to fill because Musa has been brilliant.”

Rice has played 16 times for Celtic B team this campaign so far with some of those appearances coming in the Lowland League where has has shipped 20 goals and kept four clean sheets.

He has also been handed experience in the UEFA Youth League with the Hoops and has started six matches and kept two clean sheets in that competition alone.

The 18-year-old will make his Caley debut when they take on Alloa Athletic at home later today.