Sean McArdle

Best of luck to the lad, what's that three competitive debuts for academy players this season? Good on paper

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How many have played a second game? It's not really good on paper,three players made their debut, nobody good enough to be seen again

 

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has challenged teenager Sean McArdle to become a 'personality' in the team.


The 17-year-old midfielder capped a proud moment for himself and his family as he came on to make his debut for the club in the 3-1 Scottish Premiership home win over Hibernian at Parkhead.

The Irishman revealed that he had rewarded McArdle for some impressive performances in the Celtic B team as he let him loose on the hallowed sod for the final five minutes plus injury time against the capital club.

Rodgers is an admirer of McArdle's potential and precocious talents, and he believes that the youngster can learn all the best traits from the likes of first-team skipper Callum McGregor.

The 52-year-old said: "He's (Sean McArdle) done really well in the B team, 17 years of age, obviously giving that feeling.

"I want him to be a personality, even though he's only on 10, 12 minutes, whatever it was, and he showed that.

"I like him, he's got decent legs, he's got a nice football brain, left-sided, he's got culture when he plays, and now he's got the best role models you can have in some of the players that we have here, like Callum and these guys, to learn from.

"It gives him a little reward for the good work that he's done, now he's got to continue learning and see what comes from it."

In the build-up to the Hibs match, Rodgers reiterated that age was no barrier to youngsters making it at a club like Celtic, but any first-team opportunities had to be earned. Rodgers said, "If you look through my career, I've always played young players. I've played players as young as 16 years of age, but it's not meant to be easy.

"You don't just give players, they have to earn it and they have to deserve it and they have to be warranted that opportunity through hard work and quality. It's a catch-22 situation really. I just try and simplify it. I've always throughout my career, I've judged a young player like any other player in terms of their age.

"I'm not so much worried about what age he is - does he have the talent or does he have the personality to have that wee bit of mental toughness to put him into the arena? If they have that, they'll get opportunities and then can they sustain that.

"But a young player's development might well be that he needs to get out and get into the men's game and the rough and tumble of it, and then come back and be better for it.

"So, for young players, there's always a pathway here."

 

17 or 18 is the age they should be going out on loan if they're not going to regularly feature for the first team. Get first team games somewhere then come back.

 

The spitting image of Paul Slane

 

So he'll be in Amsterdam down the light district soon

 

This is the type of sub we need to do more often when we're winning 4-0 at 60 minutes

 

I agree but there are other first team players the manager wants to try and keep happy. It's a fine balance. We definitely need to give more of a chance to young players though.

 

Thought the lad moved into great positions off the ball and linked passes well when he had it.
Would like to see more of him,looks a good prospect.

 

Aye definitely, but reckon giving them a wee taster of first time football here first before sending them off will give them that extra bit of motivation to go out and do well.

 

What’s the point in 5 minutes or something. It frustrates me

 

For future development, nothing. For saying, you've lived your dream, everything.

It's often used as an attempt to persuade development players to sign a contract. Not sure if that's the case for McArdle but wouldn't surprise me.

 

Pler

 

I like the look of him.

 

Again man..

The graceful touches from this boys is something else..

His wee flicks
Passing
Bravery in always wanting the ball
Glides with it

You can see our big players are happy to look and give him the ball..

Big future..

 

Class cameo there. Touch, awareness, combinations. Looks excellent.

 

Some lovely little touches. Massive pre-season for him coming up.

 

Didn't get to catch him the other day so this is the first I've seen him. Can already tell he's got quality oozing out him. Big Tam Roguc vibes a wee bit, boy looks outstanding.