Celtic’s youth side step into the spotlight tonight when they face Barcelona in the Next Gen Series providing a Champions League equivalent for the best teenage footballers in Europe.
With Barcelona sweeping the boards at club level and providing the backbone to the equally successful Spanish international squads the Celtic u-19 side will face the ultimate test when the famous Catalans walk out the tunnel.
John Kennedy has taken charge of the Celtic u-19 side this season and is working on a daily basis alongside Chris McCart and Tommy McIntyre to develop players capable of competing at the highest level and saving the club a fortune in the transfer market.
Tonight will be the first Celtic Park appearance for most of the Celtic side with Kennedy looking forward to introducing his side to the supporters.
GOALKEEPER: NICK FEELY
“Nick is an overage player in this side, he played for the u-19s last season and has a big presence in the box. He’s a good goalkeeper, he’s mainly involved with the development squad but what I’ve seen of him is impressive. Robbie Thomson is our first choice at u-19 level, it’s difficult to leave him out but we have two overage players to select and Nick is one of them.
DEFENDERS
“It was disappointing at Hibs to lose three goals in the opening game of the season but since then through training and games they seem to be settling down. At Aberdeen I thought that we were really good, Curtis Jones and Marcus Fraser were great in the middle and Joe Chalmers was his usual steady self at left-back, I’ve not seen him have a bad game. He’s a quiet boy who likes to get on with his job.”
MIDFIELD
“We give the players a bit of freedom supporting either two strikers or one up and one off. In the last few games Paul George has had a free role but he’s really good at dropping into space in midfield.
“We have good quality players in there that are adaoptable like John Herron, Callum McGregor and Filip Twardzik, they can go wide or play in a flat four. Jackson Irvine is comfortable in midfield, he has great energy, great fitness levels and has a bit of pace and some dig. We’ve got plenty of options there, Lewis Kidd is still an u-17 and can come in and play at this level.”
STRIKERS
“We’ve got good strength in depth and options up front. Paul George has forced his way into the team. Tony Watt leads the line well and others like Bahrudin Atajic and Liam Gormley have been contributing as well.”
On Saturday at Aberdeen Celtic dropped their first domestic points of the season being held to a 1-1 draw by the homeside.
Barcelona will present an entirely different challenge with Kennedy keen for his players to look on their opponents as equals rather than in awe at the club that have become essential viewing anytime that they are on television.
“They might have a reputation but if we get in about them, get the ball and pass it we can frustrate them.
“The way their academy works they are always encouraging a certain type of player at every age group. It won’t be a Messi or Fabregas but it’ll be guys that play similarly.
“We’ve got our own qualities that we’ll focus on and we’ll not worry too much about what Barcelona might do.”
LIKELY CELTIC TEAM: Nick Feely: Mikey Miller, Lewis Toshney, Marcus Fraser, Joe Chalmers: John Herron, Jackson Irvine, Callum McGregor, Filip Twardzik: Paul George, Tony Watt
SUBS: Robbie Thomson, Curtis Jones, Lewis Kidd, Bahrudin Atajic, Liam Gormley, Mo Yaqub, Rhys Williamson, Denny Johnstone, Darnell Fisher
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I ahd the pleasure of watching a very young Celtic side some years ago in a tourney in Holland with Charlie Grant etc. Barcelona were some way short of the quality side of today though they did have an excellent central defender.
I’m sure they will be a real handful but hopefully our young guns can take the game to them and show we have some top talent ourselves. Time to grab the limelight bhoys & really enjoy the game.