Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Kennedy: Young guns can shine
JOHN Kennedy admits Brendan Rodgers faces a challenge in satisfying his young Celtic aces with enough game time.
Hoops line-up with five teenagers and were skippered by 20-year-old Kieran Tierney when they beat Kilmarnock 5-0 on Tuesday night.
Rodgers made eight changes for that Betfred Cup match as he demonstrated j ust how much faith he has in his fresh-faced recruits.
But with first-team stars set to return against Partick Thistle in the Premiership tonight, Kennedy acknowledged many of the younger players may end up frustrated.
However, the first-team coach assured the Celtic youngsters they will get another chance.
Kennedy said: “That can be the challenge, especially at Celtic where we carry a number of i nternational players and a bigger group.
“But with so many games that is the big positive from the youngsters’ perspective.
“We’re going to be i n European competition, we’re now through to the next round of the League Cup and there’s all the league matches.
“So more and more, especially after the other evening’s performance where the manager has the trust in the full squad, we now have a group of players all pushing each other and if we need to make changes then so be it.”
Kennedy reckons l eftback Tierney, who was switched to a slot on the left side of a back three against Kilmarnock, is so good he could play anywhere f or Rodgers’ team.
“I think he can do that right now,” Kennedy said, after it was suggested Tierney could have a future in the centre of defence.
“You have a young player there who has 100% trust from his manager.”
“He can play wherever. He’s a top player.”