Meet the team: Celtic Next Gen Series

The first team appearances of Marcus Fraser, Dylan McGeough and Paul George has given Celtic’s u-19 side a higher profile than they’ve enjoyed in previous seasons.

Despite winning back-to-back doubles the expanded first team squad has curtailed the development of playersin recent seasons with only James Forrest breaking into the first team squad.

Tonight’s Next Gen Series match with Manchester City should attract a large crowd to Celtic Park, for the benefit of those outwith the small band of regular watchers I’ll go through some details of the players likely to be wearing hoops tonight.

Goalkeeper Robbie Thomson missed out on the matches against Marseilles and Barcelona but played in the 4-2 win over Manchester City at Ewan Fields. Robbie was the first choice keeper last season up until March when he lost his place to Nick Feely. A vocal keeper with a decent record of penalty saves.

Mikey Miller: Overlooked for international honours but has slotted in quickly at right-back. Loves to push forward at any opportunity with the pace to track back.

Marcus Fraser: Made his first team debut against Rennes last week and barely put a foot wrong. Since the turn of the year his game has came on at a fantastic rate, hard to believe that he’s only 17, a real leader and organiser in defence.

Jackson Irvine: Has been switching between central defence and centre midfield this season. Broke into last season’s u-19 side after the winter break and hasn’t looked back. Still working hard on the defensive side of the game and loves to slalom his way up the park to help in attack.

Stuart Findlay: Stepped in for the injured Curtis Jones and has handled the step up from u-17 level with ease. A defender’s defender. Very sure in the tackle and like Fraser a good organiser, scored for Scotland u-17’s in the recent international against San Marino.

Joe Chalmers: A tall, pacy left-back that delivers a great cross as well as carrying a useful shot. A regular in last season’s u-17 defence alongside Miller and Fraser he has carried that understanding into the u-19 side.

In midfield Celtic have a wealth of talent to choose from with John Herron, Dylan McGeough, Callum McGregor, Filip Twardzik and Paul George dominating the match away to Manchester City. With Rhys Williamson, Patrik Twardzik and Darnell Fisher also pushing for places this is clearly the strongest area of the side.

Herron captained last season’s Glasgow Cup winning squad from centre midfield but has moved out to the right this term. Always a goal threat his four game scoring run was brought to a halt by some brutal tactics in the 5-1 win at Kilmarnock.

McGregor is the ‘old man’ of the team having scored his first u-19 goal at the end of the 2009/10 season. Originally playing on either wing he’s been converted into a central midfielder that likes to push forward.

Filip Twardzik is in his third season at this level and has been made some fleeting first team appearances at left back. The physical nature of the Scottish game has taken it’s toll on his development but he proved at home to Barcelona that he can play in any company. His brother Patrik scored a hat-trick scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win at Kilmarnock after recovering from injury.

Dylan McGeough was thrown in to his Celtic debut away to Hearts and excelled in the toughest domestic fixture of the season. He’s equally confident picking the ball up from defenders as pushing forward to support the strikers.

George is on fire just now- against Aberdeen he was unplayable scoring a ‘McCourt’ style solo effort and setting up the other three. The Irish bhoy can play anywhere in midfield or in attack and possesses a burst of pace that few opponents can live with..

Unusually for Celtic both striking options are of the physical variety. Tony Watt and Omar Bogle played together for the first time against Aberdeen and both got on the scoresheet.

Watt is the top scorer this season and has scored in three consecututive games since returning to the team against Manchester City. Bogle came in for his debut away to Hearts and proved a handful to the home defence, his double against Aberdeen on Friday won’t have did his confidence any harm.

Tonight’s match kicks off at 7.45.

CLICK HERE for youth team gallery