Ange Postecoglou has confirmed Celtic will sit down and speak with Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide over potentially leaving in mid-season loan transfers, via Football Scotland.
The Bhoys acquired Shaw on a free transfer after agreeing a pre-contract with the Sheffield Wednesday product in March.
Urhoghide later followed his former Owls teammate from Hillsborough to Parkhead to be Postecoglou’s first Celtic signing. Departing South Yorkshire after two-years, also on a free.
But neither Shaw nor Urhoghide has managed to break into Postecoglou’s plans since they arrived in Glasgow. With the pair yet to make their Hoops debuts after almost four-months.
Postecoglou believes Shaw and Urhoghide have improved in training since joining Celtic. But their situations are not ideal, so leaving on temporary deals in January may be best.
“Osaze and Liam, difficult for them in the fact that sometimes when you bring in young players – they’re certainly players we brought in as development players – [it’s] much easier to bring those kinds in when the team is settled,” Postecoglou explained.
“Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to get a lot of game time for them but they’re working hard at training every day. They’re pushing themselves. I believe even though they haven’t played, they’ve improved as footballers.
“It’s about now getting them the right opportunity. That maybe here, that maybe a loan deal somewhere but we’ll make those decisions come January. We’ll sit down with the boys and see what the best way forward is.”
Should Celtic send Shaw and Urhoghide out in January loan transfers?
Shaw caught Celtic’s attention after breaking into the Sheffield Wednesday first-team with 19 Championship appearances and a goal last season.
He also started 13 of his English second-tier games, and would have expected to make his Bhoys debut. With the Glasgow giants playing 25 games in all competitions so far this term.
While Urhoghide played 16 times, starting 12, and helped to four clean sheets, but could not prevent the Owls’ relegation.
Now, the pair will likely look to leave Parkhead on loan to get regular minutes once more. A chance they could use to impress Postecoglou and secure important roles on their return.
That is unless Postecoglou is more willing to field Shaw and Urhoghide in Celtic’s fixtures before the next transfer window.
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