u-17 coaching team
Seven Celts have been included in the 18 strong squad which is coached by Ross Mathie and Tommy McLean.
Joe Chalmers scored the only goal in Friday’s 1-0 win over Macedonia with Marcus Fraser and John Heron netting in Sunday’s 2-1 win over hosts Luxemburg.
Scotland and Switzerland have both taken full points and will go forward to the elite qualifying round in March regardless of Wednesday’s result between the two nations.
As well as the goalscorers; goalkeeper James Witeman, defender Mo Yaqub and midfielders Islam Feruz and Lewis Kidd are all in the squad with fellow Celt Paul George an established Northern Irish u-17 internationalist.
That clutch of players are pushing their way towards u-19 recognition at Celtic as the fruits of the work carried out throughout the Academy structure begin to pay off.
Miodrag Krivokapic and John Sludden look after the Celtic u-17 side with Tommy McIntyre co-ordinating everything at u-17 and u-19 level- the professional end of the club Academy.
With the emphasis on player development it’s understandable that results aren’t logged or tables published but SPL rules prevent clubs from publishing any details about their matches which leaves supporters generally in the dark about how players are progressing.
Surely there is no harm done by saying that Paul George scored with a great free-kick against Club X or that Michael Fulton scored after great work by a trialist down the left wing?
Last Sunday I went along to Barrowfield and watched Celtic recover from losing a goal to a mystery SPL club to score three times in the second half.
There was no lack of competitiveness about the match with both teams giving it everything. Each side was able to make seven substitutions but they were done in a measured way with a referee taking control of the match without assistants.
Two players stood out in the Celtic side- John Heron and Paul George.
Midfielder Heron was everywhere- all over the park but in a disciplined way making every run, tackle and pass count as he dictated the game from central midfield.
On the left George was everything that you’d look for in a Celtic winger. Confident and brave on the ball with the ability to take on his marker before delivering a telling pass to a team-mate or causing danger in the penalty box.
The success and development of Celtic u-19 side is well documented with James Keatings capturing most attention from this season’s side with seven goals in three appearances.
Keatings is also a regular in Danny McGrain’s development squad with others such as Filip and Patrik Twardzik regularly playing against senior opponents.
Scotland’s first u-19 squad of the season for internationals next month includes Kieren Brennan, Lewis Toshney, Callum McGregor and Keatings.
The conveyor belt cliche often used to describe youth development is tired and out of touch. Players bubble along and sparkle, appearing out of the pack rather than from a production line.
Celtic’s u-19 side have a number of players capable of stepping up to into the first team- just as importantly there are no shortage of prospects coming through at u-17 level and below waiting to take their places.
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