Kerr McInroy has admitted that his sudden loan move to Airdrie has left him confused.
The midfielder is under contract with Celtic until May 2022 but the club has the option to add 12 months to that deal. Despite impressing in some pre-season matches under Ange Postecoglou the 21-year-old seems to be surplus to requirements.
McInroy emerged in what looked like a Golden Generation of young Celts but one by one Jack Aitchison, Robbie Deas and Daniel Church fell by the wayside leaving just Stephen Welsh and to a lesser extent Ewan Henderson at the club.
McInroy made a bright start to life at Dunfermline last season earning a Man of the Match award in a win over Hearts followed by a Scotland u-21 debut but like the Pars things seemed to head south in the second half of the season.
A Celtic breakthrough seems highly unlikely but a year ago Tony Ralston was probably in a similar situation as Jeremie Frimpong, Hatem Abd Elhamed and Kris Ajer turned out at right-back with Jonjo Kenny still to be brought in by Neil Lennon.
Discussing his prospects, McInroy told the Daily Record:
It’s a difficult one for myself. I want to play as many games as I can and show people what I can do. I want to grab a few goals. It’s a confusing situation for me. My head has been all over the place trying to work things out. So for now, it’s just a case of getting games.
I have an option of another year at Celtic but this will probably be my last year at Celtic. So I need to get as many games as I can, wherever that may be. I need to get my name back out there and getting appearances and goals under my belt should hopefully show people what I can do.
With the transfer window closed a loan deal to the League One side cropped up last week, McInroy added:
It has all come about quickly. I got a call last Wednesday from Celtic to see if I wanted to go to Airdrie. That made a big difference, that they really wanted me. I signed on the Thursday afternoon and trained on the Thursday night!
It took a long time as I was going between a few things, trying to get something sorted. I knew I was going to have to play somewhere. It was just waiting for something to come up. So when Airdrie called, I moved straight for it.
Last season was full of ups and downs. I was trying to impress Celtic last season. Now I’m trying to impress for myself.
Airdrie are currently in fourth place in League One, three points behind leaders Queens Park but also three points clear of third bottom Clyde. Celtic also have Luca Connell and Barry Coffey, two Ireland u-19 international midfielders out on loan.