O’Connell, on loan at Walsall, is out of contract at the end of the season and may be usurped at Celtic by another talented youngster.
With Brendan Rodgers seeing Celtic as a long-term project, it’s helpful that he possesses some of Scotland’s most talented young players. And there’s every reason to believe centre-back Jamie McCart can flank fellow academy star Kieran Tierney in the Northern Irishman’s starting XI next season.
The 19-year-old may not have made his senior league bow in Celtic colours but, in a successful loan spell with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, he has proved beyond doubt that he is ready to be thrown in at the deep end.
Undefeated in his five games for Inverness since arriving in January, including a stand-out performance in a victory over Rangers, McCart was rewarded with a maiden call-up to the Scotland Under-21 squad.
And his manager at Caley Thistle, Ritchie Foran, insisted that he is now established as one of the nation’s most promising young players, as reported by The Herald.
Therefore, the next logical step for McCart, son of Chris, the Head of Celtic’s Youth Academy, is to start making waves in the first-team at Celtic Park.
With Kolo Toure’s playing career winding down, there will be a gap in Rodgers’ squad and his commendable trust in young players could mean the teenager makes his long-awaited league debut in the coming months.
However, this may not bode well for another young Celtic defender aiming to make his mark. Eoghan O’Connell may have featured seven times in the first half of the campaign, including 22 minutes in that 7-0 mauling at Barcelona in the Champions League, but with his contract expiring at the end of the season his future is far from certain.
The 21-year-old has impressed for League One outfit Walsall since arriving on loan in January though the Republic of Ireland youth insisted that he has not spoken to Celtic about his future since before Christmas, as reported by the Walsall Advertiser.
And the rapid progression of McCart suggests O’Connell may find himself even further down the pecking order.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
