Johnny Kenny is back at Celtic to make an impact, and now he has the experience to do it.

Yesterday, in preparation for tonight’s game against Dundee United at Celtic Park, Johnny Kenny trained with the first-team squad. This is the first time Kenny has done so, and it makes me wonder if something very interesting might be happening here.

As everyone knows, we’ve debated on this blog—and others—for a long time now why Celtic struggles to bring through academy players. The debate is often framed as a failure to offer opportunities to young footballers. But I think this misses the mark, and Johnny Kenny’s promotion to the first team proves it.

What sets Johnny Kenny apart from other players who’ve missed out on such opportunities or haven’t been included in first-team training until now? Before considering that, it’s important to remember that there are players who’ve been part of first-team training and squads, only to turn their backs on Celtic.

Take Daniel Kelly, Rocco Vata, and Ben Doak as examples. All three were given opportunities to train with the first team. All three were told they’d be considered part of the first-team squad. And yet, all three chose to leave.

Perhaps what sets Johnny Kenny apart is that he wants to be here and has made it abundantly clear that this is where he sees his future. He’s stated that his footballing ambition is to play for Celtic, so there’s no question of him walking away the moment an English club bats its eyelashes at him. He’s here to stay and fight for a place.

But there’s more to it than that. Another key issue we’ve discussed extensively is how Celtic currently develops its youth players by having its B team in the Lowland League, a setup that few of us believe offers a suitable environment for young players to truly improve. Kenny, however, has an advantage over the likes of players currently at the club, such as big striker Daniel Cummings. Kenny has been playing at a higher level than the Lowland League—and doing it well.

While out on loan, Kenny has been playing regular first-team football. No, it’s not been in a top-tier league, but it’s still at a far higher level than the Lowland League. He’s been scoring goals and, crucially, performing in Europe too. He’s found the net there as well. As a result, Kenny has returned to Celtic not only as a better player than the one who left but as a far more experienced one. At 21, he already has first-team football and European goals under his belt.

Brendan Rodgers often tells young players that they must prove themselves good enough, that they must show they can make the step up. And let’s be honest—going from the Lowland League to Scotland’s top flight, and then to Europe, these are massive leaps up in class. It’s not a jump you can reasonably expect players to make without proper preparation.

This is why I hope Paul Tisdale and Rodgers will work together to resolve this issue over time. Celtic needs to get out of the Lowland League setup. It’s not good enough for player development. Our kids shouldn’t be getting blooded in an environment where there’s little focus on skill development or tactical growth. We need to return to basics and find a better solution for nurturing our talent.

Kenny offers a glimpse of what the future might look like—a future where Celtic’s most promising young players, as soon as they show potential, are sent out on loan to clubs competing at a decent level, ideally in Europe. They can then return as more experienced players, closer to meeting the demands of the first team.

I’m not saying Kenny will crack the first-team immediately just because he’s played in the League of Ireland and Europe’s third-tier tournament. But having gone out, gained experience, and proven himself in those environments, he stands a much better chance than someone who’s spent all their time playing Lowland League football.

It’s great to see Johnny Kenny training with the first-team squad. We do need a third striker, and my preference would always be for that player to come from within the club’s own ranks. That’s what you always want as a fan.

Sure, there’s a narrative among certain ignorant sections of the media that supporters just want to see the club spending money, but the truth is fans love nothing more than watching a young kid come through and make the grade.

Especially at Celtic, where players like that have been the bedrock of teams for decades. Celtic fans have always reserved the greatest affection for players who emerge from the academy.

Look at the Kieran Tierney example—his background is a massive part of why he’s so highly rated. Tierney is “one of us.” He came through the system, and because of that, he will always be exalted as a symbol of homegrown talent.

It’s the same with Callum McGregor and James Forrest. These are exactly the kinds of players fans want to see, more than any marquee signing. So, seeing Johnny Kenny in the squad, knowing he’s come through the academy, is a tremendous feeling. If he’s good enough to earn a proper shot at the first team, I can’t wait to see how he handles it.

As for what Kenny has done differently compared to players like Daniel Cummings and others, it seems clear that his additional experience has been key. Playing on a bigger stage than the Lowland League has set him apart and made him a genuine contender. If Cummings is offered a new deal and signs it, the first thing we should do is send him out on loan. That would do far more for his development than exposing him to first-team football too early.

So many of our most successful young players of recent years—whether they’ve been developed by the club or signed—have benefitted from being sent out on loan. Look at players such as Liam Scales, Kristoffer Ajer, Ryan Christie, and Callum McGregor—they all went out, gained first-team experience elsewhere, and came back stronger, better, and more capable. At the time, many probably thought they wouldn’t return to Celtic Park, but they came back ready to make an impact.

That’s what we’re seeing now with Kenny.

He’s proven himself worthy of this opportunity, and he deserves a lot of credit for it. Of course, the hardest work starts now, but I think he’s in a great position to succeed. It’s going to be fascinating to watch him try.

Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group via Getty Images

The other day we put up our latest podcast … The Calm After The Storm. Please show your support by liking, watching and sharing it.