Celtic have perhaps endured a frustrating few years when it comes to blooding youngsters into the first-team.
Ben Doak was a frightening prospect at Celtic, but he was snatched away by Liverpool having made just one senior appearance for the Parkhead club.
The Hoops did not provide Doak with enough minutes and when Premier League giants Liverpool came calling, it was a no brainer.
He left for a measly fee, as did the likes of Daniel Kelly and Rocco Vata in more recent seasons, with both dissatisfied and moving to Millwall and Watford respectively.
Daniel Cummings, another tremendous Celtic B talent, was hardly given a sniff in the first-team last season despite his incredible goal-scoring exploits.
And now he’s transferred to West Ham United for just a £300k compensation fee. So what about the next batch of youngsters coming through mentored by Celtic B boss Stephen McManus?
Francis Turley of Celtic celebrates after scoring to give the side a 1-0 lead cduring the UEFA Youth League, 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Atalanta BC and Celtic FC at Stadio Comunale di Caravaggio
Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty Images
McManus on Sean McArdle, Jude Bonnar & Francis Turley
McManus was speaking at the Celtic vs Newcastle United friendly press conference on Thursday alongside Shay Given.
And the Celtic B manager was asked if there is a pathway for the next set of youngsters after a reporter made it clear Hoops fans want to see the next Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor and James Forrest.
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McManus then named a trio of starlets who could follow in their footsteps. He said: “Yeah, you seen towards the end of the season Sean McArdle breaking through and making his debut, Jude Bonnar made his debut last year, Francis Turley as well. So for us at B team level, it’s great.
“Our job is to try and develop young players to get them into our first team. It never changes.
“For us, it’s not results on the paramount. They’re not the most important thing. That’s what the manager and the first team staff has.
“Celtic supporters, they love nothing better than seeing one of their own coming through. Our job at B team level is to try and produce players who are capable of playing in the first-team.
“We know how hard it is given how strong the squad is. But when you see guys like Kieran Tierney, we’ve still got Callum and James, my personal belief is you need people who have been through the club and seen the full journey.
“It’s a special club to be a part of and all we can do is try to help the next batch come through.”
McArdle, Bonnar and Turley at Celtic so far
Central midfielder Sean McArdle was a surprise addition to the Celtic bench for the last Glasgow derby clash of the season against Rangers at Ibrox.
He then made his debut as a substitute against Aberdeen at Pittodrie and did not seem fazed in the slightest.
Jude Bonnar is a couple of years older than McArdle and also made his debut against Aberdeen, but in the game at Parkhead as Celtic won 5-1.
Bonnar was also named on the bench for the away Champions League glamour tie versus Bayern Munich, a surreal moment for him and his family.
And Francis Turley was included in Celtic’s USA tour squad last summer and was given some minutes by boss Brendan Rodgers.
Rodgers loves his fellow Northern Irishman Turley and thinks he’s going to be a ‘proper player’ in the future.