Celtic Academy XI

Back in the late sixties as the Lisbon Lions dominated Scottish football there was one group of emerging young players that many thought could challenge them- Celtic's Quality Street Gang. Danny McGrain, Kenny Dalglish and Lou Macari were in the group of young upstarts learning on the training ground and preparing to take up the baton and push on in Europe and domestically. Developing through young players in the modern era is much more complex with most clubs carrying squads of 20 plus players. The demand at Celtic is to produce Champions League players- the highest possible benchmark but there is increasing evidence that players of that calibre are starting to emerge. Kieran Tierney has reached that standard and more. He went into the side, kept out an established internationalist and has improved almost on a game by game basis. Liam Henderson has hinted at those levels but failed to sustain a regular place, over the last few months Callum McGregor has shown that he can be as influential as anyone else in the team. With those players setting the benchmark it's possible within a couple of seasons half of the Celtic team could have come through the ranks- maybe one day we'll get to watch a Celtic XI made up entirely of homegrown players. CONOR HAZARD Has progressed well through the ranks over the last couple of seasons and picked up an SFA Youth Cup winners medal without losing a goal in any round. Breaking through as a goalkeeper is possibly harder than any other position with the likely route being going out on loan with a Championship team a strong option for next season. Going to a struggling side where he is likely to see plenty of action can accelerate his development. As back up and competition he has Aidan McAdams and Ross Doohan breathing down his neck ANTHONY RALSTON Made a highly impressive first start yesterday against St Johnstone and caught the attention of Brendan Rodgers when he went to Slovenia in pre-season. He had a highly impressive loan spell with Queens Park at the start of last season, unfortunately when he was recalled to Celtic he was injured almost straight away. Like Tierney he can play one step forward from full-back but knows the defensive side of the game and has the mindset and attitude to improve. KRISTOFFER AJER Not exactly a Celtic Academy product but most certainly coming under the influence of Rodgers. A year ago he was captaining Start in the Norwegian league as a midfielder but straight away Rodgers decided to convert him into a central defender. A loan spell keeping Kilmarnock clear of the relegation dogfight has sharpened his skills and given him an insight into the real life demands of the Scottish game. JAMIE MCCART Earned a call up for the pre-season trip to Slovenia which matched with his loan spell with Inverness Caley Thistle will put him into the picture for next season. He isn't afraid to get his hands dirty, get stuck in and isn't afraid to get involved in the unglamorous side of the game. Tackling and anticipation are his strengths. McCart has come through every stage of the Celtic Academy but now faces the toughest step- the final breakthrough. KIERAN TIERNEY The greenprint. Raw ability and a fantastic appetite saw him grab his chance, keeping a Honduran internationalist and Manchester United loanee out of the team. Game by game Tierney improved even though there was little inspiration or support coming from the players around him. Alongside Leigh Griffiths he was one of the biggest contributors to last season's title win, he quickly impressed Rodgers, tuned in with the thinking of the manager and continues to impress. LIAM HENDERSON It's three years on from his debut but he's still to nail down a place which is one of the downsides of making an early breakthrough. Loan spells at Rosenborg and Hibs have added to his experience but it's a run of a dozen games at Celtic that he really needs. Henderson can play in almost any midfield position and has caught the eye of Rodgers, he can take inspiration from the way that Callum McGregor's perseverance has paid off. CALLUM MCGREGOR Flavour of the month and now winning over his toughest critics. His breakthrough was all down to Ronny Deila, when things started going wrong for the Norwegian much of the anger was directed towards McGregor. He broke into the youth side as a dashing winger but his game intelligence pushed him into the centre of the park. With his quick passing and eye for goal he has everything that a modern midfielder requires. JAMES FORREST An Academy veteran. It's seven years now since he made a scoring debut against Motherwell when Neil Lennon was in temporary charge. Has had many ups and downs, probably more downs but completely reborn under Brendan Rodgers. His pace has forever been a problem to defenders, under his new manager confidence has been restored with an eye for goal and a much improved end product. MIKEY JOHNSON The jewel in the Academy system graduated yesterday, with honours. Johnson is an incredible natural talent that has been nurtured through the ranks learning to deal with older tougher opponents. Over the last twelve months he has filled out a lot, since the turn of the year he has been one of the top players in the Development side and can expect to be integrated into the first team over the course of the season. CALVIN MILLER Has had a strange season, starting as an attacking left-sided player, given a first team debut at left-back then finishing the season in attack again. After two seasons in the Development League he has to get out on loan next season, playing at a club like St Mirren could accelerate his prospects at Celtic. Pace is his main asset but he also puts in a mean cross which would suggest that he is better suited to an attacking role. A major season lies ahead. JACK AITCHISON Has all the attributes to be a top class striker except height. He plays the game with a great maturity and has a real strikers instinct around the penalty box. Jack comes alive in the final third. Next season Brendan Rodgers will have to decide whether to retain Aitchison as his third choice striker or get him out on loan to get a season of first team football under his belt.

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