Nygren and Duran deserve plaudits, but young Donovan was magnificent | OneFootball

Benjamin Nygren, and Camilo Duran may have hogged the headlines the morning after registering terrific strikes in Celtic’s 3-0 Champions League Playoff win over LASK, but young Colby Donovan also made a huge impression as he put in a class and assured display against the Austrian Champions…

Camilo Duran of Celtic celebrates with teammate Colby Donovan after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

It was a pressure cooker game, considering the onus on the manager and players to reach the Champions League group stages, especially after last year’s spectacular flop against Kazakh minnows Kairat Almaty.

It was also a big test for young Colby, as he set out not only to prove himself on the big stage, but prove that he’s more than a capable stand in for the injured Alistair Johnston, ahead of Scotland World Cup performer Anthony Ralston.

Colby Donovan of Celtic is challenged by George Bello of LASK during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

The 19 year old didn’t let himself down as he put in an impressive shift, and impressed not only the watching audience and supporters, but his boss Martin O’Neill and the new Scotland manager Sebastien Pocognoli.

Ian Maxwell, CEO of the Scottish Football Association, and Sebastien Pocognoli, Head Coach of Scotland, look on in the stands during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

This is a big campaign for Colby as he’s been in and around the first team picture for a while now, and after starring in the 4-0 Premier Sports Cup win against Dundee United at Tannadice, and following that up with a terrific performance against LASK, he has pushed himself further into the first team thoughts of the veteran Irishman.

With AJ out for the best part of three months, this is a big challenge for Colby, and he’s past it with flying colours.

There’s been rumours of steps being made in the transfer market to plug the gap of AJ’s absence, with Japanese international Yuki Sugawara the latest name being mentioned.

But if young Colby keeps these sort of performances up, we won’t need to look for a temporary replacement for AJ, indeed the Canadian could have a battle for his place when he fights back to full fitness!

He’s still got a lot to learn, and prove, but Colby Donovan can hold his head high after his European performance last night when he graduated from being a top Celtic prospect into the current first pick right back at the club on merit.

Camilo Duran of Celtic celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 play-offs first leg match between Celtic and LASK at Celtic Park on August 19, 2026 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

And he could even have played his way into the Scotland squad for the new manager’s first game in charge against Slovenia in the Nations League on Saturday 26 September. Watch this space…

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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