Martin O’Neill has never been afraid to give youth a chance at Celtic

Martin O’Neill has never been afraid to give youth a chance at Celtic

Martin O’Neill will play you if you’re good enough, history tells us just that and it should be a great incentive for Celtic’s starlets…

UEFA Champions League, LASK vs Celtic. Linz,Austria, 24.August 2026 – Linzer ASK vs Celtic Glasgow, preview, Celtic press conference, Celtic head coach Martin O Neill. Photo GEPA pictures/ Manuel Binder IMAGO

Martin O’Neill recently commented on his hopes to see a player break through from the youth ranks, and make an impact in the first team. He even went as far as to name two players he reckons have the ability to make an impact at the club.

The Celtic manager said as a recent mainstream media briefing: “We have a couple of young lads playing the B team who I think will be really good players. By the time that they are, I will be well and truly gone!

“But they will be good players. They’re only 17 now, one called Liam Kennedy, who is a really good footballer.

“I’m also hoping that wee Sean McArdle pushes on and comes right through. We need a wee bit of luck somewhere along the way, but we have one or two lads who I would love to watch at Hampden one day playing for Scotland.”

Liam Kennedy of Celtic FC. Sporting Lisbon v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 14 Jul 2026Algarve Estadio Algarve Portugal Photo: Zed Jameson/Shutterstock

Midfielder Liam Kennedy who is described as a (number 6) was part of the Irishman’s pre-season squad and had a cameo role against Shelbourne in Ireland,  looking comfortable and assured.

Sean McArdle , also a midfielder but more of a playmaker, has already made his first team debut, making his first team bow as a substitute against Hibs back in May 2025.

Sean McArdle of Celtic Celtic v Middlesbrough, Pre Season Friendly, , Celtic Park, 18 July 2026. Photo Phil Oldham IMAGO/ Shutterstock

The veteran Irishman took McArdle with him on the recent pre-season tour, and like Kennedy he looked comfortable in the match in the minutes he got on the park.

The acid test for both players and others like Thomas Hatton , who has joined Ayr United on a season long loan, is to continue to make an impact, and force their way into the first team squad, something that will be a hard and daunting task, especially with the flurry of big money signings that have arrived at the club, with more pending.

Thomas Hatton of Celtic. Celtic v Middlesbrough, Pre Season Friendly, Celtic Park, – 18 July 2026. Photo Phil Oldham IMAGO/Shutterstock

Both Kennedy and McArdle, or any other youngster at the club for that matter should take great comfort and confidence in Martin O’Neill’s track record when it comes to handing young players a chance of stardom.

Colby Donovan of Celtic is challenged by George Bello of LASK during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Currently he’s put his faith in young Colby Donovan, who is deputising for the injured Alistair Johnston , but back in his first spell, O’Neill was responsible for handing several youngsters their shot at the big timed which was even more impressive considering the talent he boasted in his squad during his first spell.

Martin had players such as Bobo Balde, Joos Valgaeren, Paul Lambert, Neil Lennon, Alan Thompson, Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, and John Hartson, but still gave youth players their chance.

Shaun Maloney (right) celebrates scoring the fourth goal with Alan Thompson (centre) and Bobby Petta during the pre-season friendly match between Queens Park Rangers and Celtic at Loftus Road, London on July 13, 2002. (Photo by Craig Prentis/Getty Images)

Players such as David Marshall, John Kennedy, Stephen Crainey, Colin Healy, Liam Miller, Shaun Maloney, Ross Wallace, Craig Beattie, Stephen McManus, Jamie Smith, and Aiden McGeady were all promoted to the first team under Martin O’Neill, and not just in ‘run of the mill’ fixtures.

The majority of them all appeared in big European and Derby clashes, even cup finals, and all of them would go on to have successful careers at both club and international level.

That has got to be a terrific incentive for today’s Celtic youth prospects.

If you’re good enough to play for the first team, then Martin will hand you that chance, that’s the message.

Camilo Duran of Celtic celebrates with teammate Colby Donovan after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Colby Donovan was outstanding in last week’s 3-0 win over LASK and having taken his chance could end up being propelled into the Scotland squad. With Alistair Johnston sidelined again, he has several months to prove himself and to keep any incoming cover sitting on the  bench.

Colby Donovan can and will improve under Martin O’Neill now that he has the chance of getting a run of games. He can open a new pathway for the Academy starlets who have clearly seen that blocked in recent times at Celtic.

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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