Latest news with #Lennoxtown
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Aberdeen ‘join race for prolific youth striker who had interest from Celtic during 51-goal season'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ABERDEEN have reportedly expressed interest in signing a prolific young striker who was on trial at Celtic this year. The Irish teenage sensation has several clubs on his trail - including Celtic and Aberdeen - after scoring 51 goals in all competitions last season. Sign up for the Celtic newsletter Sign up 1 He had more than one trial at Lennoxtown Credit: The Sun Shay Reid, 16, topped the Northern Ireland U20 Premiership Development League goal-scoring charts, scoring 23 goals in 32 appearances. The Cliftonville prospect enjoyed an even more impressive campaign down an age group with the U18s too as he found the net 21 times in 25 outings. His sensational form has unsurprisingly put him on the map, with several clubs from across the UK keeping tabs on his development. Reid had two trial periods at Lennoxtown at the beginning of the year but Celtic didn't make a decision on the 16-year-old. He has plenty of options elsewhere though, should Celtic decline to make a swoop, as Premiership rivals Aberdeen are believed to be interested along with a host of other clubs. The Belfast News Letter states he has also caught the attention of EFL Championship sides Preston North End and Wrexham, the newly-promoted Welsh-based club owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. Meanwhile, Aberdeen are also planning a swoop for another striker to add extra firepower to the first team for next season. Jimmy Thelin is set to lose Kevin Nisbet after his loan stint from Millwall ended, while Oday Dabbagh's future at his parent club Charleroi is currently unclear. Reports state, however, that Thelin has his eyes on another target to fill the void in attack. The Dons are reportedly interested in signing Ronan Hale from Ross County following their relegation to the Championship. He scored 18 goals for the Staggies last season but failed to prevent them from the drop. The 26-year-old still has two years left on his deal at Dingwall after only joining the club last summer but he is expected to move on in the coming weeks. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
'Grown men were in tears... that's what James Forrest means to this club,' says Celtic defender
Celtic defender Alistair Johnston has predicted that James Forrest will continue to set the standard for emerging talents at Lennoxtown after his historic goal spared the champions' blushes on trophy day. Having climbed off the bench, the 33-year-old scored in the 94th minute against St Mirren to ensure he maintained the record of netting in each of his 16 seasons as a professional. Now the club's most decorated player with 26 honours, he's played his way into contention to start the Scottish Cup final against Aberdeen after a cameo role which will go down in Celtic folklore. Team-mate Johnston feels Forrest — who still has another year to run on his contract — remains a shining example to all young players of the dedication that's required to carve out a successful career at the club. 'James is not here as a token player just because of the status he has,' said the Canadian. 'He still provides something to this team and gives us such a different profile on the wing. 'We have a lot of young players in that position who are direct but maybe lack consistency, which is what happens at that age at a big club. 'But James shows them how to last at a place like Celtic. 'It's about consistency and he takes the ball, protects it and makes the right decisions every time. That's why the gaffer trusts him to come in on big occasions when things are maybe not going our way. 'You think back towards the end of last season when that was the case. James was probably the first name on the team sheet at that point. 'He still has a lot to offer and hopefully he will go for 17 in a row next season.' Forrest, who opened his professional account as a youngster against Motherwell in May 2010, had last scored at Kilmarnock in the same month a year ago. Having waited until 60 seconds from the end of his 32nd appearance of this season to keep up the remarkable sequence, his goal was met by thunderous acclaim from home supporters. 'It's a fairytale for James,' added Johnston. 'Grown men were nearly in tears and that sums up how much James means to this club. 'I am really happy for him. It's a bummer that we only drew but to keep that streak going for 16 seasons is unbelievable. 'It shows how much he has taken care of himself for over a decade. 'James is a shy guy, but we got him out there and got him talking and lifting the trophy.' Johnston provided the assist which allowed Forrest to net his first goal of the campaign. Adamant that he didn't decide against shooting purely because it would deprive Forrest of the chance, he added: 'It could have been anyone standing there, I would still have passed the ball. I knew it was James and, yeah, we have been on him all week — you have to get one. 'We were telling him to be selfish and, even when he came on, I was telling him to hit shots. 'He took a couple on and you could tell he was feeling it. 'You could see in midweek against Aberdeen that he's had that little bit about him. He had his full-back on toast there. 'When Luke (McCowan) made the right decision and played the ball to me, it was always going to be a pass. 'I wanted to give him something to walk onto, but he still had a lot of work to do. 'He hit a sweet little two iron with some fade on it! 'He kept it low and out of the wind and it was amazing to see the net ripple. 'James kissing the badge and running into the corner was genius. It's a moment nobody will forget anytime soon. 'I have never seen an equaliser celebrated like that in my life. It's amazing for him and the club. He just continues to make history and break records.' Having turned on the style last midweek at Pittodrie, Celtic were not at their best and were poised to fall to their fifth league defeat of the season until Forrest stepped up. Although Brendan Rodgers' league champions are strong favourites to see off a struggling Aberdeen side to complete the Treble, Johnston admits their latest display has given them food for thought. 'It's a wee reminder, but we knew that anyway,' he said. 'Everyone in this league can give you a tough game, and they (St Mirren) played well. We will look back and figure out what we can do better. 'We were sluggish and forced a couple of things, but we know we can get back to the level. 'That will be really important because we expect a top game from Aberdeen in a Hampden final. 'They're not going to roll over just because we are going for a Treble.' Forrest and skipper Callum McGregor have now collected half a century of trophies between them and will seek to add to that tally at Hampden. Dismissing the notion that any professional could ever tire of winning, Johnston added: 'Look at James and Cal. They have won 50 trophies between them and are the two hungriest guys around. 'How can you, as a younger player with a lot less medals than them, ever say: 'Oh, it's just another one'. 'We want to win every piece of silverware available and we all have that desire and desperation to do it again on Saturday. 'We are in a position to do a domestic clean sweep so let's go and take that chance.'
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
New Bhoy wonder Johnny Kenny has shown that his first start for Celtic won't be his last
In one sense, it's probably no bad thing for Johnny Kenny that he's largely been restricted to cameo roles since returning to Celtic at the turn of the year. The Irish striker's season effectively began on February 23 last year when he ran out at Shelbourne's Tolka Park in the colours of his loan club Shamrock Rovers. As Celtic were winding down after claiming the double last summer, Kenny's season was in full swing. Interspersed with League of Ireland games, he played Champions League qualifiers against Vikingur and Sparta Prague. There then came a blizzard of Conference League matches against stellar names including Rapid Vienna and Chelsea. All told, he made 36 appearances for Stephen Bradley's side, scoring 20 times. And all that before checking back into Lennoxtown in December and being asked to show what he could do in the second half of Celtic's season. Aware of the need to manage his workload, Brendan Rodgers has wrapped Kenny in cotton wool. In the eight games encompassing his debut against Dundee and last weekend's game with Hibs, he was afforded a total of 66 minutes from the bench. There were flashes of promise, but it would require Rodgers to grant him a chance to play from the outset for any observer to make any proper assessment of his ability. After starring for 70 minutes and scoring in Celtic's comprehensive win over Aberdeen, it can be said with some certainty that his first start won't be his last. There's an assured first touch, pace and game-intelligence in his impressive package. Signed from Sligo Rovers on a five-year deal in 2022, Kenny was never going to be an overnight success at Parkhead. He played for Celtic's B team then went out on loan to Queen's Park. He won a title after moving to Rovers for their 2023 season, but it was still deemed too soon for him to push for a place with his parent club. A second loan deal with Bradley's side was arranged and proved to be mutually beneficial. With Kenny on board, Rovers became the first League of Ireland side to qualify for the knockout round of a European competition. The experience he gained in Dublin has turned him into a viable option for Rodgers. A spectacular diving header at Pittodrie to claim Celtic's fourth of the night might well prove to be the be the first of many. 'He's come in and obviously been limited in his opportunities, but it's not stopped him,' said Rodgers. 'He's worked so hard every day and it was just about timing, really. It was about giving him the opportunity and he took it. 'It was a fantastic goal. His movement was really good. So, that gave him huge confidence. 'I like him as a player. He's obviously come into Celtic earlier, went away, got some experience. 'He's grown over the few months we've had him from January. He's got stronger. 'His movement's really good and he's a natural goal scorer from 25 yards in. 'He can get the goal that he did tonight and is good with his left foot and right foot. I'm so pleased for him. 'A young guy from Ireland, playing for Celtic and then scoring your first goal at Pittodrie was amazing for him.' On a night when Maik Nawrocki also notched his first goal for the club with a thumping downward header, Rodgers' fringe players gave him substantial food for thought. Another of the wave of academy players who are now knocking on the door, 17-year-old midfielder Sean McArdle also caught the eye after being given the final nine minutes. A delightful pass opened up the Dons' defence just before Adam Idah claimed his 20th goal of the season. Backing up an impressive debut from the bench against Hibs, McArdle evidently is winning his manager's trust. 'I liked him when he came on,' Rodgers added. 'I like the young players. Any Celtic player has to have personality. 'And you could see at 17, he comes into the game, he gets the ball, he passes it. 'He's got a wee edge to him as well that I like. And he plays a lovely little one round the corner, which leads to Adam's goal. 'And that's the personality you need to have to play for Celtic. So, yes, I was really pleased for Sean.'
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic starlet could be next in line for stardom as highly-rated youngster scoops prized club gong
The one blemish in Celtic's golden era has been the lack of academy graduates making the grade at Parkhead James Forrest is the poster Bhoy for every aspiring youngster at Lennoxtown. The one-club legend is now Celtic 's most decorated player after coming through the youth system and shooting to prominence in 2010. Captain Callum McGregor could soon overtake Forrest's ever-growing trophy haul of 26 if he outlasts his fellow homegrown talent at Parkhead. Then there's returning hero Kieran Tierney, who broke into the first-team under Ronny Deila and made the club a record-breaking £25million four years later. Others like Stephen Welsh and Anthony Ralston have made up the numbers in recent years but the truth is, for all of Celtic's astonishing dominance, the one blemish in this golden era has been the lack of academy players emerging from the ranks. Rising stars Rocco Vata, Ben Doak and Daniel Kelly were all given a taste of it before being lured by bigger bucks down south. So there is still a pathway. But nothing satisfies supporters more than one of their own making the breakthrough. Kyle Ure could be the next in the academy conveyor belt to make the grade. The teenage midfielder, 19, has already followed in role model McGregor's footsteps by skippering the Hoops to 2023 Scottish Youth Cup glory at Hampden in 2023. Now, he's flourishing for the B team in the Lowland League and his impressive form saw him crowned Celtic's Young Player of the Year on Sunday night. Humble Ure showed maturity beyond his years as he collected the prestigious gong at the Doubletree By Hilton Glasgow Central. The Scotland Under-19s starlet said: "It's a great feeling obviously to be recognised for my performances and consistency throughout the year. "It's a very pleasing award to get at the end of the season and I'd just like to take a moment to appreciate all my teammates as well. I couldn't have done it without them. "Everybody in the team together makes me look better, and we all look out for each other, so it's an amazing award to get." With six goals across the campaign, Ure will definitely be on Brendan Rodgers' radar, especially after recently extending his contract until June 2027. Now dreaming of teaming up with McGregor, Forrest and KT, Ure admits his ultimate goal is to become the next success story from Lennoxtown. He told Celtic TV: "It would be everything. Growing up, you want to be a proper football player. You want to be a first-team player. Now at this stage, you're not too far away. "You train with them, you see the quality they've got and the intensity that they bring. You just need to try and get to that level and stay consistent for as many years as you can."
The National
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The National
Inside Marco Tilio's transfer from Melbourne City to Celtic
The Aussie winger joined the club in the summer of 2023 and was one of Brendan Rodgers' first signings upon returning to Glasgow's east end. Tilio's first few months in Scotland, however, went far from as planned, as he struggled to break into the team amid several injury issues. The 23-year-old has only made two senior appearances for Celtic to date and is currently on loan at Melbourne City. Read more: He recently reflected on his move to Parkhead, and how he chose the Scottish Premiership champions despite interest from elsewhere: "There were a few clubs [interested]," he told Optus Sport. "Come the end of the season, it narrows down. Speaking to all the clubs I did at the time, I was convinced mostly by Celtic. "Obviously, they're a huge team. They had a project for me, everything like that, and I couldn't give up the opportunity to play for Celtic. I'm really glad I made that decision at the time, and I'm still owned by them at the moment." Tilio recalled how his first impressions of Lennoxtown heightened his sense of trepidation at the transfer: "It was pretty crazy, my first day," he said. "I went to the building, there's staff everywhere, there's so many players, big players. It was sort of frightening at first. "They were welcoming to me, it made it easier. That first day, there were nerves. "I knew what I was getting myself into. It was important that I went there with the right mentality." Despite signing for Celtic in July 2023, Tilio never made his debut for the club until November of the same year. He was initially injured when joining, although it was let slide by doctors at Lennoxtown. "It was hard," he said. "Celtic were more than happy - 12 weeks in a five-year deal is not huge. I went on to do my rehab there throughout the pre-season. I obviously missed that part with the team, not being in training and adapting." Tilio then returned to Australia just seven months after joining Celtic. He has been on loan at Melbourne City since February 2024, and has, particularly this year, caught the eye, having scored four goals and assisted three in 15 A-League appearances. The winger is due back in Glasgow this summer, when he will look to make a firm impression on Brendan Rodgers and finally make a considerable fight for a place in the Celtic team, two years after initially joining the club.
