Not many players prepare for their European debut at Kilwinning Sports Centre- but not many players progress like Marcus Fraser.
On Saturday morning it was business as usual for the bhoy from Kirkintilloch as he lined up for John Kennedy’s u-19 side away to Kilmarnock at the Kilwinning Sports Centre.
With a swing park behind one goal and golf driving range at the other the 17-year-old gave a typically determined display alongside Jackson Irvine as a Patrik Twardzik hat-trick helped Celtic to a 5-1 win.
Fraser’s weekly routine of attending college on a Wednesday was broken with a call to prepare with the first team for the match with Rennes before a first half injury to Glenn Loovens threw him into the spotlight in front of almost 30,000 fans.
“I got asked earlier in the week to meet up with the first team and thought that I’d just be in the squad,” he admitted.
“On Wednesday night I got told that I’d be on the bench and was delighted with that but when Loovy’s hamstring went I got the call.
“I got told to warm up with Joe (Chalmers) and they were watching us. At half-time he (Loovens) couldn’t play any longer, I got called over and told to get changed and be ready to get on.
“I just got told where to be at set-pieces and was told to go out and enjoy it.”
Fraser has been on a remarkable run since the turn of the year improving on a week by week basis in the youth ranks.
That potential was recognised in April when he played as a 16-year-old away to Atletico Bilbao in a friendly with just one u-19 appearance behind him.
Three days later he was back to earth with a bump as Celtic’s u-17’s lost to Queens Park in the Glasgow Cup but by the end of the season he had picked up an SFA Youth Cup winners medal at u-19 level and played a leading role in the Glasgow Cup Final win over Rangers alongside Joe Chalmers, Paul George and John Herron.
An early injury to Jos Hooiveld in the development squad friendly against Partick Thistle in July gave Fraser another chance to shine and he responded with a man-of-the-match performance at right-back.
Playing in the Next Gen Series against Marseilles, Barcelona and Manchester City has provided invaluable experience as Fraser demonstrated last night as Celtic’s injury jinx struck again with Loovens picking up a hamstring injury.
He added: “Playing for the 19’s is brilliant but that was a big step up and I couldn’t ask for anything more.
“It was great to be 2-1 up at half-time and we had to defend. We got a third goal which helped us see it through.
“Their strikers were really fast, they had great movement but I felt that we coped really and got the result.
“Throught the second half big Dan won every ball and helped me through to the final whistle.
“I never had any time to think about nerves, I just got told to get on the park and get on with it.
“This year has gone really well for me, I couldn’t have scripted it better. I’m really enjoying it and want to keep pushing on and working hard.”
Fraser will miss today’s u-19 match against Aberdeen (kick-off 1.30pm Barrowfield) but could feature in Monday’s Next Gen Series match at home to Manchester City. Last night Barcelona beat City 4-1.
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fantastic great to see another gem come through am sure he’ll develop into a great player and let’s hope the board tie him and all the others down to lucrative long-term contracts so this can help the club develop long term success on and off the park.
(When are the board going to realise team investment and development are the way to a highly successful club and team and therefore financially successful)
Well done Marcus hope there’s more to come wish you every success for the future
Great stuff to see the young guns do so well when given their chance, well done Marcus all the best going forward.
Based on last nights performance, I think the lad deserves a start v Motherwell.
Well done lhaddie hail hail