Brendan Rodgers is in no rush to send Mikey Johnston out on loan.
The teenager has been linked with loan deals to Hibs and St Mirren this week but will be involved in Celtic’s Champions League clash with Alashkert tomorrow night.
Injuries to Jonny Hayes, Scott Sinclair and Lewis Morgan has restricted Celtic’s wing options with Rodgers keen to see what Johnston can produce.
”He is very much staying here at Celtic at this point in time,” the Celtic boss told The Sun. “He is an exciting young talent at 19 years of age.
“He is learning the other side of the game in terms of the tactical idea of pressing and how to work and how to recover but there is no doubt he is a special talent.
“So at this moment in time he is very much in my plans.
“We need to develop him, get him some games and if that changes there is a number of options with teams that would like to take him, but at this moment he stays.”
Johnstone was given his Celtic debut in May 2017 when he played from the start against St Johnstone then signed a three year contract after that match.
A thigh injury ruled him out for the second half of last season but he impressed in Scott Brown’s testimonial against Ireland then starred for Scotland’s u-21 side at the Toulon Tournament.
Rodgers will start with his strongest side against Alashkert as they seek to build on their 3-0 first leg win to set up a second round qualifier against Rosenborg or Valur.