3 minute read
10/2/2022 | 05:15pm
Having taken over a Celtic squad that was in desperate need of refreshing last summer, Ange Postecoglou has already made huge strides in transforming the makeup of the Bhoys first-team side.
Indeed, summer signings such as Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada, Josip Juranovic, Joe Hart, Jota, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Giorgos Giakoumakis provided the 56-year-old with an extremely solid base to build upon, before the Greek- Australian coach added the further signings of Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley, Yosuke Ideguchi and Daizen Maeda in the January transfer window.
However, despite the arrivals of the 12 players mentioned above, Postecoglou has still managed to afford a number of Celtic’s youth prospects with some valuable first-team minutes – with academy products Adam Montgomery, Stephen Welsh, Anthony Ralston and Mikey Johnston all being regulars within the Hoops senior squad this season, while B team players Owen Moffat, Dane Murray, Ben Doak and Joey Dawson have also featured for the first team in the current campaign.
This will provide encouragement for a number of the club’s young players hoping to push for a place in the manager’s senior squad in the next few years – one of whom will undoubtedly be centre-forward Adam Brooks.
Would you like to see Brooks in the first team?
yes
vote
No
vote
Brooks could be the next Kyogo
Indeed, the 18-year-old hitman has been in exceptional form for Celtic’s B team so far this season, having already scored ten goals in the Scottish Lowland League.
Rather unsurprisingly, these returns have seen the striker receive a considerable amount of praise, with Celtic B coach, Darren O’Dea, stating of the teenager: “The front players I can relate to the first team because that’s where we’re trying to align into
“Their attacking talent and flair is pivotal to the team but they’re also ideally our best defenders on the pitch as well – in terms of how they control the game, press the game and don’t let opposition players lift their heads and play .
“Adam is one at the minute that’s in really good form. He’s scoring goals, he’s created a lot of goals, he’s trained particularly well. But he’s also developing the other side to his game.
“And, for Adam, someone like Kyogo is who he should be watching all the time. As much as Kyogo is known for how sensational he is in possession, he’s as good out of possession.”
Big Fat Celtic Quiz of 2021 – can you get 100%? Question 1. How many managers have Celtic had in 2021?
One Two Three Four
Indeed, with O’Dea suggesting that Brooks is learning to replicate the way Kyogo plays the game, considering his impressive return of goals for the reserve side this season, as well as his clear ability to create chances and application in training, should the 18th -year-old continue his current rate of development over the next couple of seasons, Postecoglou could very well have a homegrown Kyogo on his hands – an extremely exciting prospect for everyone involved with the club.
In other news: Ange can finally ax “explosive” £12.5kp/w Celtic dud by unleashing £4k-p/w “athlete”
