One good pre-season can change a career. Just ask Colby Donovan. Twelve months ago, the young right-back was a fresh-faced academy hopeful looking to make his mark. Now he is a league and Scottish Cup Double winner after bursting onto the scene during Celtic's summer tour.
And the next crop of Lennoxtown starlets are desperate to follow in his footsteps. Six youngsters were handed a chance to impress in Dublin against Shelbourne as Martin O'Neill got an early look at the talent waiting in the wings. They have two men in their corner who know exactly what it takes to make the leap: coaches Stephen McManus and Shaun Maloney both came through the academy ranks before winning trophies galore at Parkhead.
The champions will still look to splash the cash on new arrivals this summer, but fans will also hope to see an academy gem forcing their way into the senior squad. Record Sport takes a closer look at the six kids who could be the next names off Celtic's production line.
Joseph Haney
The Scotland Under-17 starlet could have a bright future at Parkhead. The defender, who only turned 17 last month, made the first-team bench in January's Scottish Cup win over Auchinleck Talbot. With Kieran Tierney absent due to his World Cup commitments, the youngster slotted in at left-back against Shelbourne, getting the nod ahead of Adam Montgomery. The Surrey-born kid made 17 appearances in the Lowland League last season, supplying one assist.
Sean McArdle
Celtic fans probably hoped to see a lot more of McArdle last season after he burst onto the scene in the final weeks of the 2024/25 campaign under Brendan Rodgers. The teenage midfielder, 18, made a huge impression against Hibs and played a part in one of Celtic's five goals in the dismantling of Aberdeen at Pittodrie. He linked up briefly with ex-Celt Mark Wilson at Partick Thistle, but the loan stint was cut short in January after he made only five appearances. Still, there's no doubting the Bhoy has talent.
Thomas Hatton
Hatton was arguably the pick of the bunch in Dublin. The 19-year-old winger is highly rated at Lennoxtown and was named as a sub in Celtic's 1-0 win over Stuttgart in February's Europa League clash. The wide man is versatile and can play on the left and right. He penned a three-year deal last season to keep him at the club until 2028. Direct and pacey, the attacker registered nine goals and three assists for the B side last term.
Liam Kennedy
Remember the name. This kid could be the next big thing at Parkhead. A 17-year-old midfielder, Kennedy has been on the books at Celtic since he was six and signed his first pro deal last summer. Playing in the deeper, Callum McGregor role against Shelbourne, the youngster didn't look out of place as he anchored the middle of the park and boasts a real physical frame. The starlet only recently graduated to the B team from the Under-19s and is one to watch.
Kyle Ure
Of all the academy kids most likely to make a breakthrough this season, Ure probably sits top of the list. The highly rated midfielder spent last season on loan at Ayr United and has been hailed as a 'mini Callum McGregor' by Parkhead icon Scott Brown, who brought him to Somerset Park. Ure made 19 appearances for the Honest Men last term and has been a regular for the B side, yet is still waiting to make his top team debut at Celtic. Now 20 years old, the Scotland Under-21 starlet will hope to use this pre-season to catch O'Neill's eye.
Francis Turley
Turley starred in pre-season a couple of years ago and earned glowing praise from boss Rodgers, who handed him a bumper four-year deal. The Northern Irish kid was then rewarded with his top team debut away to St Mirren but hasn't really kicked on since. Like Ure, the 20-year-old spent the second part of last term on loan at Ayr. Despite being an attack-minded playmaker, he was surprisingly thrown in at right-back against Shelbourne and didn't let himself down.
