Filip Twardzik marked his return from an 18 month injury nightmare with Celtic’s second goal against Hamilton Accies in a 3-0 win tonight for the young hoops.
The highly rated midfielder has been sidelined by a succession of groin and muscle injuries since August 2012.
Replacing Luke Donnelly after 52 minutes, he won a loose ball on the half way line at the touch-line then forced his way forward, side stepped one defender and placed his shot firmly into the net.
Filip is in his fifth season at Celtic and started to make in-roads into the first team at the start of last season where his vision and passing ability impressed.
Concerns that the Scottish game may be too tough for someone of his ability were overcome as he stood up to the physical treatment regularly dished out in u-19 matches.
There was plenty of tasty challenges flying about in the match with Hamilton as referee Mike Taylor’s performance steadily deteriorated leaving both sets of coaches frustrated and the players puzzled as to what the official was prepared to let go.
With another three points in the bag Celtic remain in contention for their fifth successive title although with almost a dozen players out on loan development is taking priority over silverware this season.
The Celtic side was along similar lines to the side that beat Kilmarnock 1-0 last week with just Calum Waters and Donnelly coming in as straight replacements for Darnell Fisher and Holmbert Fridjonsson.
It took Celtic just four minutes to take the lead with a goal that home keeper Blair Currie would rather forget as he smashed a clearance against Patrik Twardzik with the ball rebounding into the net.
In the twentieth minute Celtic almost went 2-0 in front but a 20 yard drive from Lewis Kidd went just wide of the post after good build up play down the left.
As the match progressed the decisions of referee Taylor took a turn for the worst with the coaches of both sides left puzzled by his mis-interpretation of the laws.
Eight minites into the second half Filip made his way on to replace Donnelly and wasted no time making an impact.
Within 60 seconds of taking to the pitch he had the ball in the net after winning the ball on the halfway line and racing in on the Hamilton goal with brother Patrik among the first to join in the celebrations.
Thirteen minutes from the end John Herron almost put Celtic 3-0 in front but Currie saved well at close range following a great pass from Kidd.
The free scoring midfielder wasn’t to be denied however, showing his striking instinct five minutes later to turn on a loose ball and lash the ball home from 10 yards out.
CELTIC: Fasan: Kidd, O’Connell, Fraser, Waters: Herron (McMullan 83), Lindsay, McManus, Henderson (Thomson 83), P.Twardzik: Donnelly ( F Twardzik 52).
SUBS: Hart, Kelleher, Miller, McCart.
HAMILTON: Currie: Watson, McMann, El Zubaidi, Devlin: Hendrie, Armstrong, Docherty, Lyon, Antoine-Curier: Ryan
SUBS: Brophy Johnston Smith Reilly Want Law
SCORERS P Twardzik, F Twardzik, Herron.
Good to hear glade he is fit again he is such good player Give him a change and he will be a great player for the Bhoys Hail Hail JMJ