Aidan Nesbitt continued his excellent start to the season with a goal in Celtic’s 2-1 win over Dundee in Tuesday’s Development League fixture at Cappielow.
Trailing to an early goal from the visitors Callum McGregor equalised eight minutes from half-time with Nesbitt scoring early in the second half.
Nadir Ciftci, Anthony Stokes and Scott Allan joined McGregor in Tommy McIntyre’s side but as Ronny Deila, John Collins and John Kennedy watched from the stand it was the ability and flair of Nesbitt that troubled Dundee most.
Playing the same high tempo style as the first team Nesbitt’s trickery on the wing proved to be the X-Factor as he twisted and turned down the right while Kieran Tierney’s pace troubled Dundee on the other side.
As well as his dribbling skills and ability to hit his target with a cross Nesbitt has an keen eye for goal with four strikes from four appearances in the Development League.
Breaking into a first team squad packed with attacking options looks to be a tall order but with his versatility the 18-year-old is getting closer and closer to the big breakthrough
“I wouldn’t pigeon hole him, Aidan is just a good footballer,” McIntyre said on Tuesday night. “He has a lot to learn but he works hard and is willing to listen. It doesn’t matter what position he plays, he’s flexible and is the type of player that we like to develop.
“Aidan did really well, he took the game by the scruff of the neck at times and is a lovely player to watch. He works hard and puts everything into his game.”
On another night Celtic could have scored five or six with Nesbitt among those that were wasteful in front of goal.
The younger players all looked completely comfortable playing alongside the more established names with the team starting the season with four straight wins.
Establishing a pattern of play within a team that changes regularly isn’t straightforward with McIntyre pleased with the way the team responded to going behind.
“Dundee did very well, they made it difficult for us but we played with a tempo,” the Development coach added. “We played well as a team, the first team boys came in and it was great for the younger ones to play alongside them and see the levels required. Some of the stuff was excellent.
“We lost an early goal which gave us a chance to see how we reacted to that setback, how to get back into the match and turn it around. I thought the players did it really well, we created a lot of chances and found their keeper in great form.”
On Tuesday Celtic travel to Ross County in the Development League, on Sunday Celtic’s u-17 team take on Fife Elite Academy at Lennoxtown, kick-off 2pm.
“Playing the same high tempo style of the first team”
Seriously? The tempo of the first team is as slow as a week in the jail.
“Breaking into a first team squad packed with attacking options”
WHAT?? We have very little attacking options. That has been glaringly obvious since the start of the season. Griffiths, Commons and Forrest. That’s it. Hardly packed with options. Don’t get me started on GMS, Johansen and Ciftci.
celtic will always give young players thier chance we have good players who will win the league for us again defence is celtic,s biggest problem has been since last season