Former Sheffield Wednesday defender Osaze Urhoghide is facing an anxious wait for his Celtic debut after struggling to impress in training, as reported by The Athletic.
When the 21-year-old turned down advances from the likes of Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Watford in favour of a move north of the border, it was assumed that Urhoghide would have a big role to play in a substantial rebuilding project at Parkhead.
Particularly with Shane Duffy gone, Kristoffer Ajer going and Christopher Jullien, the £7 million forgotten man, stuck on the treatment table for what feels like all of eternity.
But while Urhoghide has been included in the matchday squad nine times under Postecoglou – he was on the bench for Sunday’s 1-0 Old Firm derby defeat to Rangers – the Dutch-born defender is unlikely to join Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi, Joe Hart and co into Celtic’s starting XI any time soon.
What does the future hold for Osaze Urhoghide at Celtic?
According to The Athletic, Urhoghide has not exactly set the world alight since putting pen to paper with the Glasgow giants.
The fact that Dane Murray was picked to start ahead of him for August’s Champions League qualifier with Midtjylland spoke volumes.
At 18, Murray is three years younger than Urhoghide and had never made a single senior appearance prior to Postecoglou’s arrival.
Urhoghide, meanwhile, had 19 league appearances under his belt following an impressive breakthrough season at Sheffield Wednesday.
It is understood that Liam Shaw, the tigerish central midfielder who also swapped South Yorkshire for Glasgow’s East End, finds himself in a similar situation with Celtic not yet considering him ‘a viable first-team option’.
And it’s not as if Postecoglou doesn’t have a track record when it comes to giving youth a chance. The Aussie Jose Mourinho he most certainly is not.
Alongside Murray, Anthony Ralston, Stephen Welsh and the exciting Adam Montgomery – labelled ‘outstanding’ after a fine display at left-back against AZ Alkmaar last week – have all featured regularly under the new Celtic manager this season.
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