Connor McBride has left Celtic for Blackburn Rovers with the Championship side having a clearer route to first team football.
At the age of 18 the striker went on loan to Stenhousemuir where he started eight matches, came on as a substitute in a further 10 with his only goal coming in a 3-1 defeat away to Cowdenbeath just before Christmas.
It has been well recorded the impact of no reserve football with that void making the progression from youth to first team level far more difficult.
Celtic have very few options when it comes to giving young players match-time, as he joined Blackburn McBride told the club website the target he has in mind after his experience at Stenny.
It was a difficult experience, but it was really good for me. You’re playing against men every week and I feel that can only serve me well coming down here.
You want to play as high as possible and I think every player in Scotland wants to come down to England to test yourself in these leagues.
Even playing in the Under-23s, you’re playing against sides such as Chelsea, Manchester City, teams like that, and I’m looking forward to it.
So far there is no word of any organised football in Scotland outside of the four SPFL divisions.
The shrinking Reserve League is likely to stay mothballed with no news of when the Challenge Cup or Glasgow Cup will be played.
It will be sink or swim for McBride at Blackburn but at least with the u-23 league he has something to aim at.
Great feeling signing with @Rovers looking forward to the challenge ahead ? pic.twitter.com/Q6HarMf7Ey
— Connor Mcbride (@connormcbride0) September 2, 2020
