According to reports, Patrick Roberts is on course to start today’s match.
I am pleased about that, because Roberts sounds as if he has something.
But Ryan Christie ought to be a must-start with him.
The case for Christie is overwhelming.
This is a player who’s been performing in the SPL for the last couple of years, a kid who is a permanent member of the Celtic squad as opposed to being on loan. He has been a first-team stalwart in the Inverness side for the last couple of years, and that alone qualifies him to play in this match.
But more than that, his performances thus far in the Development Squad have been stellar, proving him the player his Inverness showed. He turned from injury and has already turned in performances that suggest he’s already back to his best.
I understand the concept of not rushing players into the team, by Ryan has already done the business in this league and he fits in with Celtic’s playing style, capable of going either through the middle or out wide in pursuit of goals and assists.
On the surface of it, this shouldn’t even be a remotely difficult choice for the manager to make, and not only would it demonstrate that he’s willing to give young players a chance, but it fires a warning shot across the bows of more senior players that they are, quite literally, playing for the futures.
If John Collins is right about a number of them leaving at the end of the season then every man should already know this, but some might be labouring under the misapprehension that they are safe because they appear to be on the team sheet every month.
It’s time players at Celtic Park were dissuaded of that belief, and made to understand that playing for the jersey means more than just turning up to collect your wages.
So many of our players have been lax this season, and their performances are part of what has put the manager under pressure. It’s an oft heard view amongst Ronny’s supporters that the players don’t get nearly enough of the blame for the way things have gone in certain games … and I agree with that to a degree. But now there’s no real excuse for picking them over and over again.
Every manager knows if certain players let you down – and this year it’s Johansen, Mackay Steven, Forrest and others – you drop them. A lot of bosses don’t have that luxury, but Ronny Deila is not one of those.
He can throw Allan and Christie and others in there, and rely on them because he knows they’ve played these kind of games before.
So come on Ronny; give these guys a chance today.
They’ve earned it … and you know they’ll do the business.