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Celtic can directly compare starlet Mikey Johnston with reported target Jake Hastie after both receive Scotland under-21 call-ups

Jay Williams

Tue 5 March 2019 7:15, UK

It has been a whirlwind few weeks for Jake Hastie, who has burst onto the scene at Motherwell after returning from a loan spell at Alloa Athletic.

Since returning to Motherwell in January, Hastie has netted five goals in eight games and has caught the attention of a host of clubs.

, Celtic and Rangers are battling English clubs like Hull City, Middlesbrough and Millwall for Hastie.

The 19-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and these clubs could strike a bargain.

And after breaking into the Motherwell first-team and picking up a number of admirers, Hastie has now been called up to the Scotland under-21 squad.

The talented teenager could receive his first international recognition after Scot Gemmill called him up for friendlies against Mexico and Sweden in late March.

This gives Celtic the perfect opportunity to scout him and directly compare him with one of their own promising starlets.

Mikey Johnston has been named in the Scotland under-21 squad too and he will be hoping to win his fourth cap at that age level.

The 19-year-old has scored three goals for Celtic’s first-team this season (all three of which came in two matches) and he is highly rated by the club.

But the interest in Hastie could endanger Johnston’s chances of progressing into the first-team squad on a regular basis.

Celtic should keep their tabs on this personal battle between Hastie and Johnston when they feature for Scotland under-21.