Celtic’s clash against Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup on Saturday was like the undercard of the main event everyone is waiting for.
That all-action heavyweight clash takes place on Wednesday night when Celtic host Bayern Munich in the first leg of their play-off encounter in the Champions League.
But, before that, Brendan Rodgers has ensured that his team have remained focused and professional.
Only days earlier, the champions put six goals past Dundee in the Premiership and then netted five against Raith Rovers in the Scottish Cup, with the manager ringing the changes.
One man who was handed his first start for Celtic was rising centre-back, Dane Murray.
Many would have seen Murray make his debut at Villa Park in the Champions League and get introduced into the big-time in a pretty brutal fashion, as his mistake led to Aston Villa’s fourth goal.
But against Raith Rovers, things were far better for the centre-back because he kept a clean sheet, and did everything that was asked of him, as he stood alongside Liam Scales.
Alan Hutton wowed by Dane Murray as he trained pitchside for Celtic
Alan Hutton and Charlie Mulgrew were pitchside for the Scottish Cup encounter and they watched the Celtic players train up, close and personal.
One thing Hutton noticed, in conversation with Mulgrew, is the size of Murray and how he is ‘some size physically’.
The former right-back compared himself and Mulgrew to the Celtic youngster and how, ‘we aren’t exactly small’, as he told Premier Sports (08/02/25 at 5:15 pm).
“Me and Charlie (Mulgrew) aren’t exactly small,” said Hutton. “They were here warming up behind us and I said to him, ‘he is some size physically’.
“You can see, he is ready and built for it. It’s just about taking your chances. The manager has trust in him.
What Queens Park boss Callum Davidson said about Murray
Murray was loaned out to Queens Park in the Championship this season, before returning to Parkhead during the January transfer window.
The man who coached Murray was Callum Davidson and the former St Johnstone boss liked what he saw from the Celtic young gun.
Hutton relayed a conversation he had with the Queens Park boss and how it’s now up to Murray to take his chance.
“Callum Davidson spoke to me a few weeks ago and Charlie about how highly he thought of Murray,” shared Hutton. “So, he is ready and it’s about taking your chances.
