Celtic must take a chance on starlets Tam Hatton and Sean McArdle | OneFootball

Celtic starlet Tam Hatton looks the real deal. So too does Sean McArdle But will they be given an opportunity and can they make the grade? There’s only one way to find out…

Thomas Hatton of Celtic arrives at the stadium ahead of the pre season friendly match between Celtic Andy AC Milan at Celtic Park on Saturday 25th July 2026. Celtic v AC Milan, Pre Season Friendly, – 25 July 2026. Photo Andy Buchanan IMAGO/Shutterstock

We’ve been debating for a while now, regarding who will be the next player to graduate from the Celtic youth academy and make their mark on the first team.

It’s been quite some time, and we are all desperately looking for someone to mirror the impact made by current first team stars, Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney.

Saturday’s clash with AC Milan might well only have been a run of the mill a pre-season clash, but it was an entertaining game, and one of the main takeaways from the game for me was the performance of young Thomas Hatton.

Thomas Hatton of Celtic in action against Celtic during Celtic v AC Milan in a pre-season friendly at Celtic Park on July 25, 2026. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

His short cameo appearance from the bench clearly wooed the Celtic supporters at the game, and impressed the man who matters most, that being our manager Martin O’Neill.

The talented winger showed his true class on the right hand side of attack, and so nearly had a moment to remember when he bamboozled serval Milan defenders as he went on a mazy run, only to see his blistering shot from outside the box go agonisingly shy of the right hand post by a matter of inches.

Thomas Hatton of Celtic. Celtic v Middlesbrough, Pre Season Friendly, Celtic Park, – 18 July 2026. Photo Phil Oldham. IMAGO/Shutterstock

The 19 year old looked bright and industrious in his short time on the pitch, and not for the first time this pre-season.

He clearly impressed Martin O’Neill who didn’t rule out the youngster featuring in squad for the Scottish Premiership opener, and further match-day squads going forward.

Thomas Hatton of Celtic. Celtic v Middlesbrough, Pre Season Friendly, Celtic Park, Glasgow, – 18 July 2026. Photo Phil Oldham IMAGO?Shutterstock

The Irishman had this to say at his post-match media conference on Saturday: “That would be nice. Tam has been with us the whole pre-season. The same with Sean McArdle. Tam, I just congratulated him for his spell on the field. He is prepared to take people on. That’s a dying art, which is great, so he will get all the encouragement in the world.

Sean McArdle of Celtic Celtic v Middlesbrough, Pre Season Friendly, , Celtic Park, 18 July 2026. Photo Phil Oldham IMAGO/Shutterstock

“Now he is a young lad making his way in the game. Really encouraging. Obviously a battle on to try and get into the side, like anything else, but I was really impressed by him, as I have been impressed with his attitude during all of pre-season.”

Encouraging words indeed for the youngster, but it’s unlikely that he will see too much more first team action when the campaign kicks off. Especially with an influx of new additions expected to arrive.

However there is a clear need for Celtic to provide a pathway to the first time IF the Celtic Academy is going to retain our best talent amid continual summer raids from English clubs in the Premier League and Championship.

Thomas Hatton of Celtic Celtic v Middlesbrough, Pre Season Friendly, Celtic Park – 18 July 2026. Photo Phil Oldham IMAGO/Shutterstock

For Celtic to convince the best of our young talent coming through in the game, it will be necessary to show examples and Tam Hatton and also Sean McArdle we have two talented young players who could contribute to the Celtic first team squad this season.

Back in the day Billy McNeill would always take the opportunity to introduce young players in the closing stages of games especially with Celtic a few goals up. Surely that could be easily replicated as a minimum. It might even keep the 80 minutes leavers in the stadium for a little longer!

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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