Just under five years ago Celtic were facing Manchester City in the Next Gen Series.
After losing to Marseilles and Barcelona it was a mist win match for the young hoops who were preparing to square upto a club that had started to invest millions in their Academy structure.
The match was played at the home of Hyde with just a few pockets of Celtic fans along to enjoy one of the most impressive ever youth team performances.
Sadly Callum McGregor is the only survivor from that side in contention to be involved tomorrow night with most of the players that faced City enjoying a couple of first team appearances without quite getting the opportunity to nail down a regular place.
Thirteen months after the win over City Tony Watt’s name was known all over Europe after scoring against Barcelona but as kick off approaches tomorrow the Hearts striker will be looking on from afar.
The Celtic side that handed a lesson to City are now scattered far and wide with the usual mix of success stories matched in with hard luck tales as the hopes of youth give way to the brutal realities of the modern game. Celtic won the home leg 2-1 with goals from Dylan McGeouch and Marcus Fraser.
CLICK HERE for six of the Celts that beat City 4-2.
CALLUM MCGREGOR
Was still operating mainly as a wide player but seemed down the pecking order compared to others in that youth side.
His Celtic career seemed to be almost over when he went on loan to Notts County in 2013 but a great scoring run and the appointment of Ronny Deila gave him an opportunity that he took with both hands.
At the moment he seems to be behind Nir Bitton in Brendan Rodgers plans but the 23-year-old has made an impact on the new Celtic boss.
PAUL GEORGE
Two goals against Manchester City, coming a month after making his first team debut at Ross County seemed to confirm the Irish kid as the next emerging thing at Celtic Park.
Six months on from the win over City his career was in tatters after a brutal challenge from Lewis MacLeod as the young hoops won 3-0 at Murray Park.
George never regained his form with loan spells at Hamilton and Dunfermline proving ineffective. After returning to Ireland he moved to Australia where he seems to be rediscovering some form with lower division side Ballarat Red Devils
JOHN HERRON
Managed to make two first team appearances for Celtic but never really threatened to break into Neil Lennon’s midfield.
Playing wide right against City he levelled the scores in the first half and always showed an eye for goal.
After a spell on loan at Cowdenbeath he left Celtic on a free transfer in 2015, joining Blackpool but is currently back in Fife on loan at Dunfermline.<%