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News
‘What’s happening here?’… Manager was absolutely shocked with what Celtic did with 32-year-old player on Saturday
East Kilbride boss, Mick Kennedy, couldn’t believe his eyes when he rocked up to the Excelsior Stadium on Saturday afternoon to face Celtic B.
The Lowland League manager was expecting a usual run-of-the-mill fixture as he looked to bolster his place at t෴he top of the tabl𓂃e.
But Celtic produced a surprise that he and his team could not quite believe. James McCarthy was stripped and ready to play in a rare run-out in the green and white hoops and Kennedy ꩵsaid that the selection of the Irishman was a huge motivator for his team.
Kennedy said [ print edition ], “When we turned up and saw him in the squad it wa🔯s a massive shock to us.
“🅰E🍌veryone was like: ‘What’s happening there?’ “But, for us, it didn’t change anything.
“Obviously, it meant Celtic had added quality🐠 but in terms of the game plan and tactics, everything stayed the same.
“For James, it probably meant he was🙈 getting something a bit different to a Premiership game, in terms of more time and spa𒀰ce.
“I think t𝓰hat is the first time since Celtic B have been in the Lowland League that there has been aღ proper first-team squad member playing, and our boys were motivated to do well.”
The appearance of McCarthy couldn’t stop the young Hoops losing 2-0 to Kennedy’s side but his outing for the youth side is a sign of how the 32-year-old is viewed within Celtic.
McCarthy has clearly never been part of Celtic’s plans for well over two seasons now. 27 appearances over the last two years is not a great return on a player who was signed by Ange Postecoglou.
The fact he wasn’t taken on the pre-season tours by Brendan Rodgers and that he’s not featured for the first team tells you his days are numbered at Celtic.
Hopefully, McCarthy is🐻 one of the players who are moved on in January for the sake of his flailing career and for Celtic’s finances.
In other news, ‘Looking to do’… Mark Guidi makes exciting £20m Celtic J꧂anuary transfer prediction