Colby Donovan

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The Celtic Star

·28 November 2025

Colby Donovan – “I thought he was terrific,” Martin O’Neill

Colby Donovan surely deserves a regular run of games from now until Alistair Johnston comes back from injury in the New Year…

UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 – Feyenoord Rotterdam vs Celtic FC, Netherlands Colby Donovan of Celtic FC looks dejected after conceding his sides first goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Feyenoord Rotterdam and Celtic FC at the De Kuip in Rotterdam, Netherlands, November 27, 2025. Rotterdam Netherlands Photo Matrix Images/ Marcelxter Bals

Last night Colby Donovan produced yet another impressive performance on the European stage as he excelled in the 3-1 win over Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

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Tony Ralston, who has been rather lacklustre in recent games, and was very poor in the 3-1 defeat in Midtjylland after being battered with the ball straight in the face, is seen as the preferred back up to the injured Alistair Johnston.

However young Colby has proved without doubt that he more than deserves a run of games in the Canadian’s absence until the New Year.

Auston Trusty and Anthony Ralston of Celtic look dejected after conceding 3rd goal Midtjylland vs Celtic, UEFA Europa League, Group Stage, Football, MCH Arena, Herning, Denmark – 06 November 2025. Photo Michael Zemanek Shutterstock

Ralston is of course a Scotland player while Donovan plays for the Scotland u21s. An extended run in the Celtic team, building on his impressive showing last night, could actually see him coming into contention for Steve Clarke’s World Cup squad for next summer. It’s certainly a target for Colby to aim for and that can only benefit Celtic, with the new manager coming in at the start of the next week.

Wilfried Nancy, Head Coach of Columbus Crew SC, arrives prior to the MLS match between Inter Miami CF and Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium on May 31, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Rich Storry/Getty Images)

You would imagine that Wilfried Nancy will have been watching carefully last night and will have been impressed by the Celtic performance, including the young rookie who only made his Celtic debut back in August.

Tony Ralston gives his all in a Celtic shirt, that can’t be argued. But Colby Donovan seems much more gifted, and he can put in the hard graft too. He has all the ingredients to be a special player for Celtic for years to come.

Against Feyenoord, and away to Zagreb as well for that matter, he looked very mature beyond his years. He shows no fear in the big games, and is more than worthy of a longer run in the side.

It will be interesting to see who Martin selects in the right back berth for Sundays clash with Hibs, or indeed incoming boss Wilfried Nancy going forward, but I suspect that both managers will see no valid reason – other than tired legs – to take him out of the team.

Young Colby more than deserves his chance to be a regular starter for Celtic through until the New Year and we can be confident that he’s up to the task and is not going to let anyone down. He can also act as an inspiration to the Celtic Academy players that there is indeed a pathway to the Celtic first team, something that hasn’t always been the case in recent years.

Martin O’Neill, speaking to Celtic TV after the 3-1 win in De Kuip against Feyenoord had this to say about Colby Donovan. “Couldn’t be more pleased with him. Couldn’t be more pleased. I thought that he had a tough time at Hearts. Got left out. He’s come in here. I’ve seen bits of him now that I think, ‘Yeah, wait a minute, there’s a player there’.

“And I thought he was terrific, because he was up against a really decent player. And he coped admirably, considering we were away from home. And, yeah, I couldn’t be more pleased with him. I said to him in the dressing room there that he was magnificent tonight.”

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