Celtic manager makes Brighton & Hove Albion claim

Celtic have enjoyed quite a bit of success domestically in recent years and there is no question that they have been the best team in Scotland for a long time. Still, that does not mean that it has been all smooth sailing for the Hoops. One area where they have fallen short is the development of their youngsters and bringing them into the first-team fold.

The only regular in the current Celtic starting XI who came through the youth ranks at the club is Callum McGregor. He is 30 and broke into the first-team picture many years ago.

That would not fill the club’s youth players with confidence when it comes to their chances of making it to the first-team level. And we have seen many leave Celtic before ever getting there.

Brendan Rodgers recently gave his thoughts on the entire matter and even used Brighton & Hove Albion as an example. As reported by Football Scotland, the Northern Irish manager said:

"“I think one of the challenges for a club like Celtic over the past few years has been that some of the biggest young talents have got to a certain stage and then just went. Ben Doak was an example. You are getting him through to a certain age and he breaks into the first team and then he’s gone.“It is a challenge, it always is. The big teams want success and that is a demand. But as a manager, you will always find ways if that is what you inherently believe in. You will find ways to give those players an opportunity.“Sometimes at the big clubs, they need a career away from the club before they have a career in there. The likes of Brighton signed players who have a career away and then they come back in and have their career there.”"

Celtic manager makes Brighton & Hove Albion claim

This is certainly an area in which Celtic need to improve a lot moving forward. It remains to be seen if they can do that under the management of Rodgers. During his first stint at Parkhead, the Northern Irishman seemed pretty open to giving youngsters a chance in the first-team.

It is not like the club have not had any talented youngsters in recent years. Of course, Ben Doak is someone who did leave for Liverpool.

But at the same time, at this moment, they have Rocco Vata in their ranks who has done a fantastic job for the B Team. Yet, he is not getting opportunities for the senior side and it would be understandable if or when he leaves. Instead of making a long list of ‘project’ signings over the summer, maybe some of those chances could and should be given to the club’s own youth stars.