Graham Carey was never really given an opportunity at Scottish Premiership giants Celtic but has starred with League One Plymouth Argyle.
Celtic obviously felt that Graham Carey would not make the grade in Glasgow.
He made just one first-team appearance for the Hoops after emerging through the ranks, against Rapid Vienna in a 2009 Europa League tie, before being farmed out on a series of loans. And, two years after making his debut, Carey was gone, signing a contract with St Mirren.
But almost a decade after he came off the bench in Austria, is it time Celtic accepted that they made a mistake? Carey may have never played above the level of England’s third tier since moving south of the border three years ago but that is not for a lack of talent or offers.
Carey has been regularly linked with club’s higher up the football pyramid but has remained loyal to Plymouth Argyle, while emerging as one of the most naturally gifted attacking midfielders outside the Premier League.
In all competitions last season Carey scored 16 goals and provided 13 assists. It was the most prolific campaign of his career and very nearly ended in fairy tale fashion, with Plymouth rising from the relegation zone to the brink of the play-offs thanks to a remarkable upturn in form throughout 2018.
Carey, with all due respect, is too good for Plymouth. Blessed with real class, stunning set-piece delivery and an excellent scoring rate from midfield, there is an argument to be made that Carey would not look out of place in Celtic’s current squad.
And, with Brendan Rodgers lacking a natural number ten after the Charly Musonda experiment failed, maybe Carey should be handed his second Celtic appearance, nine years after the first.
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