Manager tells highly-rated Celtic loanee to work harder

If a young player wants to break through at Celtic then going out on loan can be a great way to get match experience and develop. But they need to work hard and put in the effort needed to get to play with the loan club.

While loans don’t always work out successfully, there are plenty of great examples where they have. Both Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie are great examples of successful loan spells building experience to help them fight for a first-team place at Parkhead after returning. If a player gets the chance to be out on loan, you’d expect them to grab it with both hands and make the most of the opportunity.

Jonathan Afolabi has some excellent abilities and has started well on a couple of loan spells away from Celtic. Last March, he was an instant hit at Dunfermline before pandemic restrictions stopped the season. Afolabi had the fans excited with a goal on his debut and then a couple more a few matches later before the season was curtailed.

The player joined Dundee on loan this season and again made another bright start. That has faded away now and he’s no longer a first-team pick. Only 3 goals in 11 games have prompted James McPake, the Dundee manager, to ask Afolabi to work harder.

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The Celtic youngster has been told to work harder

Talking in The Courier, McPake spoke of Afolabi needing to do more in training to impress at the club and get back into the team:

"“It comes down to who deserves the place in the team most and that’s judged on training. That’s something all the players have to do.“To get in the team you have to work really hard and prove you are worth a place in the team – then you have to produce the goods on a Saturday.“Jonathan has to get to that level.”"

With a new signing at Dundee in Jason Cummings and the powerful striker Osman Sow staking his claim for a starting spot as well, Afolabi will have a lot to do to impress and get back into their line up.

If you aspire to get into the Celtic squad then you have to be playing well to be in contention. It’s going to be tough to get into the team if you can’t get selection at another club on loan. If Afolabi wants to secure a place and a future with the Hoops then he’ll need to do more and soon.