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Stephen McManus identifies sizzling Celtic prospect destined for the top as B team boss makes a candid admission
Big Mick is convinced the next generation of stars are ready to break through at Parkhead
Every Celtic youngster dreams of following in the footsteps of poster Bhoys James Forrest, Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney.
But Stephen McManus knows better than most that only a handful will ever make it all the way.
Now B team boss, the former Hoops captain is hellbent on streamlining the route from the youth set-up to the first-team.
As an academy graduate himself, Big Mick is a shining example for the current crop learning their trade at Lennoxtown.
The ex-defender rose through the ranks, captained Celts to title glory and led them into the last 16 of the Champions League.
These days, it's his job to nurture the next generation of stars. And while the road to Brendan Rodgers' top team is anything but straightforward, McManus insists there will always be a pathway.
He said: "Yeah, listen, that's what pre-season is for as well. This is my fourth year with the B team and we've been really lucky that over the last three years, we've got boys that have played, after under-18s, they've played 150 games.
"They've played 50-odd games a season, which after under-18s, you don't always get. We're lucky that we've got that.
"Like I say, our job is to try and prepare the boys for first-team football. Hopefully, it's here. Absolutely.
"We've been lucky this year, I think. Francis Turley made his debut this year. Jude Bonner made his debut this year. Sean McArdle came on and made his debut towards the end of the season.
"And then you've got the boys that have been out on loan as well. You've got Ben Summers, Matthew Andersons as well.
"So it's been a really productive season again for us. But ultimately, we want to make sure we try and do our best to help the manager and the first-team staff to be able to say, 'Right, these are what we've got. Are they ready to fit into the first-team squad?'
"That's what pre-season is for. As a young player, you get an opportunity. You'll get an opportunity, whether it's in pre-season or every day that you come to work, every day that you're then performing for your club, whether you're at the football club or you're at somebody else on loan.
"So it's difficult. It's difficult, of course it is. That's why the people that come through are so limited.
"But when you look at the success that we've had with boys that are playing football at other clubs, it's great."
With Greg Taylor vacating the No.3 jersey, there could soon be an opportunity for a homegrown talent to step up.
Returning hero Tierney will reclaim his place at left-back - but his injury record means Rodgers will need to manage his minutes carefully.
Rising star Matthew Anderson is among the most highly-rated emerging talents at Lennoxtown.
Dubbed 'the next KT' by coach Greig Robertson, the defender spent last season on loan in Austria with feeder club Admira Wacker. Now 21, this summer could prove to be make-or-break.
McManus said: "He's got a massive future in the game, absolutely massive. He's a terrific boy with a brilliant family, and again, you can only stay with us, with the B team, for a couple of seasons.
"Matthew outgrew the B team two years ago. That's why he's not played for the B team. That's why the next stage of his development was to go out and loan.
"Some people make their debut at 16 and then go and play for the rest of their careers. Some people are 21, 20, they need to go a different route. That's fine, that's fine.
"But what you need to do is, when you get an opportunity, you need to try and become a football player, and that's what Matthew's done.
"He's a terrific boy, terrific worker for a terrific family, and he'll be a top player. He'll be a top player."
For aspiring players, there are few better role models than Forrest, McGregor and Tierney.
Forrest recently overtook Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennox to become Celtic's most decorated player, with 26 trophies to his name.
Skipper McGregor - whose own breakthrough came via a loan to Notts County - is only two major honours behind.
And Tierney famously banked the club a record £25million fee in 2019, only to return on a free six years later.
Speaking to promote next month's friendly clash with Newcastle United at Parkhead, McManus added: "You need that here, where it's so important that people can relate. The boys that have been here, that have done it.
"I've spoken about this before, but when I look back over 20-odd years, boys that have come through the football club, you want them making an impact.
"Making an impact is not just playing now and again. You want to contribute. You want to play five games. You want to play 50 games. You want to play 100 games. You want to play in the first team.
"You need people that have done it, basically, just to prove, listen, if they can do it, there's no reason why the other boys can't do it.
"That's where Kieran falls into it, Callum falls into it, and James falls into it. It's great, but it's a hard slog.
"Of course it is, but you need the right types of people that are leading the football club, and that's what we've got here at the moment."
