CITY TRUST SCOTLAND
BRANDON BARKER reckons Manchester City see Scotland as the perfect platform for their top young talent to blossom.
And he can’t wait to lock horns again with old pal Olivier Ntcham this weekend when Hibs face Celtic.
Barker is thriving on loan at Easter Road and the highly-rated 21-year-old helped Neil Lennon’s side dig out a 1-0 win away to Dundee in the Premiership on Wednesday.
The winger is loving his own stay at Easter Road after watching French ace Ntcham seal a dream £4.5million move to Parkhead in the summer.
Patrick Roberts is another who has shone since leaving Pep Guardiola’s star-studded City side for a loan stint with the Hoops.
Aberdeen recently snapped up African ace Chidi Nwakali on loan from City and Barker insists the Premier League leaders believe there’s no better place than the Scottish top flight for their rising stars to cut their teeth.
Barker said: “City see Scottish football as a good place for young players to develop.
“There are a few of us up here on loan and they also sold Ntcham to Celtic for a lot of money.
“If you can handle the game in Scotland, the pace and power as well as the grit of the teams in this league then it sets you up for the rest of your career.
“You have a good chance of making it to a good level if you can handle it here.
“It’s not the same as the Premier League down south but it’s a good standard.”
Barker will go head to head with Ntcham this weekend and has no doubts the French playmaker will turn into a pivotal player for Celtic given time.
He said: “I am good friends with Oliver, I played with him for three years.
“He was a top player in the youths before going to Genoa in Italy for a while.
“Celtic have obviously seen what he’s capable of and they spent a few quid bringing him up here on a permanent deal.
“He is a really good signing for them, he is settling in to the league now and will keep getting better.
“He’s big, strong and so comfortable on the ball. Sometimes he’s unplayable.
“I’m sure he will go on to become one of the top players at Celtic.”