Eoghan O’Connell is set to make the leap from League of Ireland to Champions League tonight.
In April he returned to his home city of Cork for a loan spell that was cut short after five matches due to injury.
Ironically injuries to Erik Sviachenko, Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic have given him his own chance- with Brendan Rodgers confident that the teenager has the ability and mentality to handle Astana.
“Young Eoghan has been excellent,” the Celtic boss said. “He reads the game really well. You saw against Leicester just how well he coped.
“He’s only 20 but he has an in-built brain for football. He understands the game, he wants to defend, he’s good in the air and he passes it well.
“For a young player, if they show those qualities and professionalism I never have any fears of putting him in.
“In terms of Efe, he knows that if he can cut out mistakes he makes in games, then you have a very good player.
“Physically he is very strong, very fast and good in the air.
“It’s about decision-making and simplifying the game, if he can do that he can be an asset.
“I have no qualms about who I put in. We also have players like Mikael Lustig, who was outstanding at the weekend. I’ve been really impressed with him.”
On Thursday night Cork City host Genk of Belgium in a third round Europa League qualifier- a stage further than Hearts and Hibs reached.