It was a break from the competitive action as Celtic took a much-changed side to face Irish opponents Sligo Rovers. After ninety minutes of quality football in front of a packed-out Showgrounds, Celtic won by three goals to two. While there were many valuable minutes for youngsters on display, Brendan Rodgers used this to give an opportunity to those in the first team who have seen their chances limited. Here on Last Word on Football, with this in mind, we provide our Celtic fringe players analysis and the future implications.
Celtic Fringe Players Analysed
Scott Bain
Despite joining the club in January 2018, Bain has rarely nailed down a place as a number-one goalkeeper. He has played second, and sometimes third fiddle to Craig Gordon, Fraser Forster, Joe Hart and now Kasper Schmeichel.
Ultimately tonight showed why.
With the ball at his feet, he was comfortable, and at times he made some decent saves. Yet as always, there were some moments of madness.
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Perhaps for the second goal you could cut him some slack, with an awkward bounce catching him off guard. For the first goal though, there can be no reasonable explanation of how a shot straight down the thirty-two year old’s throat ended up with him throwing the ball into his own net.
Ultimately though, it changes little. He wasn’t in Rodgers’ plans and functions as an admin tool for home-grown players.
Stephen Welsh
It will have been a special night for the Scotsman, captaining his boyhood club for the first time.
Individually he won his duels and showed great composure, although he was part of a dysfunctional structure in all honesty.
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You would expect Welsh to be a bit-part player this season. He has been around the squad long enough to step in aptly and is on a long-term contract. Plus, he fills the homegrown quota. It’s unlikely he will ever be a nailed-down starter but he only needs to look to Liam Scales as inspiration on how quickly the picture can change.
Maik Nawrocki
There were rumours of him heading out the exit door this Summer – although the Polish international has stayed fighting for his place. Although, it seems he is fifth in the pecking order with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales, Stephen Welsh and Auston Trusty all getting more minutes.
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Like Welsh, he barely put a foot wrong. The scoreline looks harsh thanks to two goalkeeping howlers.
There is talent and quality there, it is clear to see, but a lack of pace is evident. Particularly, on the continental stage, that won’t cut it. He’s a Rodgers signing from last season, yet he seems completely out of his plans.
Alex Valle
On loan from Barcelona, a trip to the Showgrounds may have been a culture shock.
He had a wonderful piece of defending to save Celtic from what looked like a certain goal with a one-on-one situation looming. In possession, he did well with the limited options he was given.
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With Greg Taylor set to return after the international break the Spaniard will likely be relegated to the bench, however, in his few opportunities, he has shown promise, and should the Champions look to sign him permanently next season, there is the making of a future starter there.
Luke McCowan
He has made brief spells – since signing from Dundee, and the majority have been bright. Tonight, besides two inexperienced youngsters he had a responsibility to be a leader in the central areas. He was bright on the ball at times although lacked the quality connections beside him to get in a real rhythm. Late on he played a wonderful pass through to Yang, which was blazed over the bar.
The diehard hoops fan will be a squad player for the three-in-a-row champions. Should he take his opportunities well, there is potential for more. Only time will tell.
Luis Palma
Since an outstanding start to last season, the Honduran has seen game time hard to come by.
Although tonight, he will have done no harm, with a man-of-the-match hat-trick performance.
In the opening stages, his decision-making was questionable, however, the twenty-four-year-old stepped up in the second half and was Celtic’s main attacking outlet.
Considering the fee he was bought for, he has aspirations of fulfilling more than a squad role, yet it’s hard to see any other outcome at this moment in time solely down to Daizen Maeda’s influence.
Yang
Last season there were brief moments when Yang provided a spark, but with the improved form of Nicolas Kuhn and James Forrest, the South Korean has found it tough to consistently make the bench.
He started on the right wing and had an impressive evening. For a brief spell, he swapped wings with Palma and got heavily involved although missed a guilt-edged opportunity.
He rounded off the night with a wonderful assist for Palma’s winner.
A loan move may be the best option for him, as minutes could be hard to come by. An injury or two though, and he will become necessary. Gametime elsewhere is what he needs, but the Champions cannot afford to let him leave, otherwise they would be incredibly short in depth.
