It won’t be too long before Brendan Rodgers is lifting another Premiership title at Celtic.
Celtic’s dominance has been unmatched this season and, wherever you look across the park, the club is blessed to have some of the top stars from across the world repping the club’s famous colours.
The all-action Japan star Daizen Maeda can’t stop scoring, whilst American international Cameron Carter-Vickers is the rock at the back, with the consistent Dane, Kasper Schmeichel, in between the sticks.
In regards to players who have come through the ranks or are Scottish-based, those numbers have diminished over the years and the finances have played a part.
Boyhood fan Callum McGregor is the only regular starter who has come through the ranks, and in recent times, Rodgers has handed debuts to some of the latest stars coming through.
But Andy Walker explained why it’s a problem.
Andy Walker tells Jude Bonnar it will be ‘very, very difficult’ to make it at Celtic
Jude Bonnar was handed his debut during Celtic’s thumping win over Aberdeen last week, but Walker has played it down.
Despite that big moment for the midfielder, Walker feels it’s going to be ‘very, very difficult’ for Bonnar to make it at Celtic Park.
Walker told Go Radio that, it isn’t just a Celtic issue, but he feels ‘most clubs in the Scottish Premiership’ are no longer providing those big minutes to their young academy stars.
Very, very difficult to make an impact as a young player at Celtic now,” said Walker on Rodgers’ call to hand Bonnar his debut. “In fact, at most clubs in the Scottish Premiership, because you have got nine subs and you can put five of them on.
“At Celtic, I look at the amount of recognised international players that are sitting on the bench and you almost feel that they will always get game time ahead of any young player.
“If you were to look at the amount of minutes that young players have had at Celtic and, at most clubs in the Scottish Premiership, it’s really low.
“That’s why I think it is so, so difficult to come through and make your mark. Be a recognised first team player and play every week.
“I know there are exceptions like Callum McGregor, who has done it, but he had to go out on loan (to Notts County). But he did come through the system. Very, very difficult to do it now.
The teenager Celtic could sign that could push Bonnar further back
From Johnny Kenny to the recent debutant Bonnar, they might struggle to earn those regular minutes at Celtic because of the sheer quality ahead of them.
But the champions themselves could knock on the door of Motherwell and sign their rising star – Lennon Miller.
The 18-year-old has been a regular performer at Fir Park this season and Motherwell are a club who give academy graduates a chance.
So, don’t write off the prospect of Celtic signing Miller this summer, which would push a player like Bonnar down the pecking order because that’s the position he plays.
