Last November Neil Lennon headed along to Barrowfield for his first look of the season at the Celtic youth team as they faced up to Rangers.
Having lost just one goal all season the afternoon turned out to be a bit of a disaster as Rangers won 4-2 with one fair haired midfielder stealing the show- Dylan McGeough.
From that moment the wheels were set in motion to bring the Milton bhoy back to Celtic with the year long chase bringing it’s first obvious reward with McGeough scoring a remarkable solo effort in his first appearance at Celtic Park.
“I went to see his parents and there were about 400,000 people outside the house!” Lennon admitted after the 5-0 win over St Mirren. “It was quite interesting.
“I think we had to pay a bit of compensation but we are very pleased that he wanted to come back and play here.
“He might not get a better goal in his career than that and it was a great way to start his Celtic career.”
Not many players have the guts to bounce back between Celtic and Rangers but after notching his first goal for the club the 18-year-old was happy to set the record straight.
“When he walked through my front door, that’s when I decided,” McGeough admitted about Lennon’s home visit. “I used to go to all the games and the manager of Celtic coming in my door to sign me showed he had intentions for me.
“I had six months left on my contract and I was allowed to talk to other clubs, but I wanted to come back home really. I left Celtic about four years ago.
“I was here with my brother Darren but he wasn’t too happy so he decided to move on.
“My mum and dad wanted me to move as well and the next best place for my development was Rangers and that’s where we decided to go.
“I thought that was it finished with Celtic. I was kind of sad. I was looking forward to going to Rangers, they are a big club. They knew they were getting a massive Celtic fan but they thought I was a player and they pay the wages.
“And when I played for Rangers I gave it my all and I scored against Celtic. But to be back here is something special.
“I am a massive Celtic fan and to score is a dream. My family were all there and I’m sure it will mean a lot to them.”
An end of season foot injury meant that McGeough missed the start of the new season but after making his debut, playing 45 minutes away to Hearts in mid September, his ability was obvious.
After less than five youth team matches it looks like his u-19 days now belong to the past- maybe that 4-2 defeat from Rangers last season wasn’t such a bad result after all!
CLICK HERE for Celtic 2-4 Rangers November 2010
CLICK HERE for Barcelona 5-1 Celtic report
CLICK HERE for Video Celts TV
Follow Video Celts on Twitter, Facebook
Young Dylan looks as if he’ll be a great player one day.
This surely will be the way forward for Celtic now bringing in the youth.
Absolutely delighted for Dylan & his family today. A dream come true!
Great confident performance when he came on. Congratulations kid.
Just remember though, you are first and foremost, a player in a team. I understand the anxiety to show what you can do, but a little more foresight and two cutbacks instead of shots would have made the scoreline even bigger.
You have a real chance, don’t blow it.
he’s very young, players are allowed to make a few mistakes when they break through, they learn from them. he certainly diguised any mistakes he made with that goal however! wow!