Martin O’Neill calls in Celtic B-Team centre-half Finlay Hale | OneFootball

Martin O’Neill gave academy prospect Finlay Hale the chance to join the first-team training session yesterday before the Hoops jetted off to Denmark ahead of tonight’s game against FC Midtjylland…

Before heading to Denmark for this evening’s Europa League crucial Europa League encounter against the league phase’s table-toppers, O’Neill’s squad underwent a light training session at Celtic Park.

Hale – a consistent performer for Celtic B this season – was spotted stepping onto the famous Celtic Park pitch with Colby Donovan as training got underway. The centre-back has broken into the Celtic B team setup this season under the stewardship of interim first-team coach Stephen McManus, earning regular playing time for the first time.

During the entirety of last season, Hale featured only once in the Lowland League, but so far in this campaign, he has already accumulated 12 appearances.

The 18-year-old – classified as a homegrown talent – is included on Celtic’s UEFA B-list and may serve as backup for Cameron Carter-Vickers in central defence, with the Big Strong Man excluded from the squad to accommodate Hampden hero Callum Osmand.

On-loan Manchester City defender Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is also not in Celtic’s Europa League squad, meaning that without Hale, O’Neill would have just Liam Scales, Auston Trusty, and Dane Murray available at centre-back.

McManus – who has taken on a temporary role with Celtic’s first-team coaching staff – introduced Hale to the B-team earlier this season and managed him before moving up to join the senior setup.

Meanwhile, O’Neill reckons it was a no brainer to include Osmand into the Europa League squad. Speaking at yesterday’s media conference in Denmark he said: “That’s true, yeah. So, we’ve got two centre-backs, and the big lad as well, who played at Hearts, so we’ve got that. But you’re right, it was just an automatic thing for him to come in.”

“It’s been amazing, really, for him. He’s a really nice lad, and he’s sharp, and he’s good. And, yeah, so… Yeah, I like him. I like him a great deal. It’s early, yeah.”

Conor Spence

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books

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