It was only a 54 minute appearance but there’s something about Josh Jack to keep an eye on.
A recent five goal scoring spree against Stranraer earned the 15-year-old a call up to the bench for Celtic’s u-17 match against St Mirren today.
Tom Caffrey and Grant Savoury had already put Celtic in front when Jack was unleashed onto the pitch and clearly determined to make an impact.
From his first touch it was obvious he could play a bit, inside the penalty area is his hunting ground with an instinct for goal that can’t be coached.
Awareness, work rate and lots of other aspects will be getting worked on but the 15-year-old from Dumbarton showed the instinct of a time served predator when it comes to that 18 yard box around the goal.
Ewan Henderson had put Celtic 3-0 in front from a softish penalty before young Jack really got involved.
Having had his celebrations at putting a header into the net cut short by an offside flag Jack made no mistake in the 51st minute when he was sent through one on one with the keeper, he never hesitated for a moment.
I always like those type of goals, they define strikers as far as I’m concerned.
With twenty minutes left to play Jack, or JJ as almost everyone knows him, scored his second. Substitute Max Potter went galloping down the right, slung a cross into the box with JJ putting his head on it with the Saints keeper having no chance.
It was a sound rather than spectacular performance from Celtic with another younger sub, Dylan Forrest coming on and showing plenty of appetite to get involved in centre midfield.
Celtic had opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Caffrey raced on to a great pass from Daniel Church, showed a good touch then fired past the Saints keeper.
Caffrey was the creator of the second goal, sending a great crossfield ball to Savoury who smacked the ball high into the net from 15 yards.
The only disappointment on the day was the referee, his school teacher type language and pleading with players struck a wrong chord, at this level a referee should be helping the game along rather than trying to interfere creating problems when there are none.
CELTIC: McAdams; Duffy (Potter 66), Welsh, Deas (c), Church; McInroy (Kennedy 75), Marku, Henderson (Forrest 64); Savory (Jack 36), Campbell, Caffrey