Jackson Irvine’s Celtic youth team-mates

Jackson Irvine’s big money transfer from Burton Albion to Hull City put the spotlight back on Celtic and the club’s youth academy.

While some supporters wonder why he never made the breakthrough at Celtic others used the transfer to highlight the quality that comes through the ranks at Lennoxtown and Barrowfield.

Unfortunately for Irvine he emerged at Celtic at a stage when the club was overloaded with quality midfielders- something that holds true to the current side.

From Victor Wanyama, Joe Ledley and Beram Kayal through Stefan Johansen to Stuart Armstrong, Tom Rogic and Callum McGregor Celtic have never been short of midfielders with Scott Brown staying the course

McGregor has been the only midfielder from Irvine’s time to make the breakthrough but he too was a late bloomer and could easily have slipped away if Ronny Deila hadn’t drafted him into the side when he took over from Neil Lennon.

Irvine wasn’t much of a goalscorer at Celtic but after a difficult loan spell at Kilmarnock his game flourished at Ross County although there wasn’t many calls for him to be brought back to Celtic.

His subsequent career shows that there are no guarantees in the game, it’s all about taking advantage of circumstances. While Irvine has grasped the opportunities coming his way a couple of his former Celtic youth team-mates are almost of the scrapheap including Filip Twardzik who looked the brightest prospect of them all.

ROBBIE THOMSON

Never got near a first team place due to the strength of the goalkeeping position.

Had spells on loan at Airdrie and Stenhousemuir and has added Cowdenbeath, Queen of the South, Hamilton and now Falkirk to his CV since leaving Celtic in the summer of 2013.

That’s a lot of clubs by the age of 24, he is still working with Celtic as an academy goalkeeping coach.

DARNELL FISHER

A real success story, impressed under Neil Lennon then sent on loan to St Johnstone by Ronnie Deila who then signed Saidy Janko because he had played for Manchester United.

Alan Stubbs saw enough to take him to Rotherham last season, it didn’t go well for the Yorkshire side but Fisher was picked up by Preston in the summer.

He came to Celtic from the Reading area as a 17-year-old and left as a hardened pro capable of playing in the 46 match marathon than is the EFL.

MARCUS FRASER

It was looking promising for Marcus, he made a first team start at Inverness in February 2013 but a cruciate ligament injury a month later against Aberdeen in the SFA Youth Cup effectively ended his Celtic hopes.

Now closing in on his 100th appearance for Ross County he’ll have aspirations of following Irvine to Burton who seem to have a scout in Dingwall.

A first team debut v Rennes at 17 promised so much but he is now in a position to pick up on the promise he demonstrated throughout his Celtic days.

CURTIS JONES

Was a real class act in the centre of defence but injuries were never far away and hampered his progress.

The 2012 final was his last Celtic appearance. A move to Bristol City didn’t provide him with the opportunity that he needed with a number of stop offs before recently joining Southport.

He joined Celtic in the strange deal that also included Josh Thomson and Michael Ordish from Stockport in 2009.

JOE CHALMERS

Made a couple of first team appearance in the 2012/13 season but never really threatened Emilio Izaguirre for a place before suffering a hip injury.

A loan spell with Falkirk in January 2014 was followed by a two year deal with Motherwell after leaving Celtic in the summer of 2015.

After being freed by Motherwell he signed for Inverness Caley Thistle where he has been a regular this season.

FILIP TWARDZIK

Perhaps the biggest disappointment and another victim of the injury jinx that struck so many of this squad.

He missed out on 18 months of action after playing for the first team against Hibs in September 2012- it wasn’t a major injury just a constant run of muscle strains.

Filip could have been a classical number 10 but left for Neil Lennon at Bolton and is now in the Czech Republic playing for MFK Vitkovice in the second tier.

JACKSON IRVINE

A fantastic success story, when you are playing in World Cup qualifiers and being transferred for millions it’s fair to say that you’ve made in.

The 2012/13 season was interrupted by injury, season 2013/14 wasn’t the greatest on loan at Kilmarnock but once he hit Dingwall there was no stopping him.

Hull won’t be the peak of his career, there’s more to come from the Melbourne bhoy as he takes every challenge in his stride showing a goal touch that was largely absent during his Celtic days.

JOHN HERRON

Another of the injured crew that saw his Celtic prospects slip away.

Spells at Cowdenbeath, Blackpool and Dunfermline haven’t allowed the midfielder to pick up on the promise he showed coming through the ranks.

Later in 2012 he was on the bench against Barcelona with his old school mate Tony Watt, with no club at the moment hopefully Herron will soon be back in the game somewhere.

DYLAN MCGEOUCH

Was never really a youth team player having been signed with a view to breaking into the first team.

The Celtic midfield has always been highly competitive with McGeouch sent out on loan to Coventry and Hibs.

A permanent move to Hibs brought him a Scottish Cup winners medal with Neil Lennon helping him back into the top flight last season.

CALLUM MCGREGOR

A late bloomer! His Celtic days looked over when he was sent on loan to Notts County but the arrival of Ronny Deila launched his Celtic career.
He has always had an eye for goal, as demonstrated by the Hampden hat-trick against Queens of the South but 2017 has been the year that his Celtic career really took off.

Brendan Rodgers has total confidence in the midfielder whether it’s a holding or attacking role he is always good for goals.

LIAM GORMLEY

Suspension to Tony Watt opened the door for Gormley who had scored in the winner in the previous years final against Rangers (IL).

Gormley had been signed from Motherwell but is now turning out for Cambuslang Rangers after stints with East Fife, Queens Park and East Kilbride.

Two cup winning appearances at Hampden should have led to more but circumstances can often determine how a career unfolds with Gormley having little luck since leaving Celtic.