Former Celtic midfielder Scott Robertson has been talking about the players with the most potential coming through the Bhoys set-up currently.
Robertson knows many of the youngsters on the cusp of a first-team breakthrough and, as part of first-team training at Lennoxtown, also saw some select talents in the context of senior training.
Now at Fleetwood Town, he’s been giving his perspective on who has the best chance of making a career for themselves at the Bhoys.
He told The Daily Record [14/10 print edition]: “The two boys who impressed me most were big Bosun Lawal and Rocco Vata, who both started training with the first team last December while I was still at Celtic. It can be daunting for a young player to take that step but day in and day out they showed the ability they have. And that was recognised straight away by the more experienced players.
“Rocco is a real talent. He’s already been linked with some top European clubs, which tells you the reputation he’s been building. He really surprised me when he first began training with the first team. He has special quality and managed to get some minutes under Ange Postecoglou towards the end of last season.
I don’t know what his contract situation is and there has been speculation on social media about a move. But he can forge a career at Celtic, I have no doubt about that.
“I played a couple of Celtic B games towards the end of last year and Matty Anderson was excellent. He’s on loan at Austrian side Admira Wacker, who are a feeder club.
He’s a left-back, very comfortable on the ball and another who hugely impressed me. I’d back him to kick on when he comes back.”
Vata’s deal expires at Celtic at the end of the season and there has been no official word on an extension.
With the Bhoys rejecting advances for him during the summer transfer window, clearly he is valued by the club.
But he is also correct to covet first-team football and if he isn’t getting opportunities in Glasgow, Vata may well decide his future lies elsewhere.
Lawal is playing regularly for Fleetwood Town alongside Robertson now, while Anderson has three assists in five matches for Admira Wacker.
Loan moves that provide consistent week-to-week football are always welcome and aid development.
It remains to be seen whether any of these three ‘make it’ at Celtic, nothing is ever guaranteed on that front, but it seems they have the best shot of any of their young peers at the club.