Matthew Anderson and Celtic’s tiny percentage of game-time for U21s

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The Celtic Star

·6 de junio de 2025

Matthew Anderson and Celtic’s tiny percentage of game-time for U21s

On the Celtic Star on Friday my colleague Just An Ordinary Bhoy raised an interesting point regarding Celtic’s back up left back options for the season ahead, namely the consideration of our own prospect Matthew Anderson as am option worth considering for staking a first team squad place next season.

Celtic defender Matthew Anderson during their match against Chelsea at Notre Dame Stadium. Celtic won 4-1. South Bend Notre Dame Stadium IN USA, Photo Matt Cashore

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With Celtic linked with a few left backs of late it’s difficult to know if the club are genuinely interested in adding another left back to the squad or if there is perhaps some pressure being put on the representatives of Greg Taylor to sharpen the focus and consider the contract that is on the table from Celtic.

If Matthew Anderson is to get game-time the 21-year-old will have to buck a trend and perhaps a concerning one at that. Based on last season’s appearances Celtic gave 50.9% of the playing time to players aged between 26 and 29. In the Scottish Premiership that was the highest figure.

Celtic Manager Brendan Rodgers applauds the fans at full-time. Celtic v Hibernian, Scottish Premiership, 10 May 2025 Photo Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock

For over the 30’s the figure is 19.5%, meanwhile players aged players aged 22-25 come in at 21.9%. The more worrying figure regarding Celtic’s playing minutes is for those aged under 21 – and the age bracket Matthew Anderson falls under – comes in at just 7.8%. To put that in some perspective only St Mirren have given minutes to less under 21 players than Celtic at 0.8%.

There is perhaps a general issue to the age profile of the Celtic squad whether that be from academy graduates or signings, but I have to say I’m in agreement with Just An Ordinary Bhoy when it comes to Matthew Anderson.

The young Celtic left back has been on loan at Admira Wacker for two seasons. Over those two campaigns he has made 44 appearances for a team who finished runners up in the Austrian Bundesliga II last season.

Anderson has grabbed a couple of goals and 8 assists in that time and he must have impressed Brendan Rodgers on last season’s pre-season tour, where against some top level opponents, he competed well and looked the part physically also, and that’s not something we can say of every Celtic youngster to make the first team.

However, to get into that first team squad and compete for minutes he’s going to have to change Brendan Rodgers mind as to the age profile he hands competitive minutes to- and that may not be easy. However, there could be a solution in the offing – in theory at least.

Liverpool was concerned their own prospects were hitting a roadblock, but when Jurgen Klopp signed his final contract, it apparently included a clause that ensured the Liverpool coach had to give playing time to Academy prospects.

Leipzig, 05 10 2022, RBL Trainingszentrum am Cottaweg, Football, 2022 2023 season, U19 Juniors, UEFA Youth League, Group Stage , RB Leipzig U19 Celtic Glasgow U19 1 2 0 2 , Pictured f l Matthew Anderson 63, Celtic and Aris Bayindir 17, RB Leipzig , photo Imago

This wasn’t purely for development, it was because under EPL financial sustainability rules Liverpool Academy products sales can be shown as pure profit – and to sell your wares, you must showcase them first.

Celtic don’t necessarily have to worry about that in quite the same way, but with Brendan Rodgers contract surely due for some discussions it may be worth Celtic considering a similar approach.

Kieran Tierney holds the Scottish Cup Trophy following the Scottish Cup Final between Motherwell and Celtic at Hampden Park on May 19, 2018. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Celtic are of course due to re-sign Kieran Tierney this summer, and it was Ronny Deila that gave him his big break, but that came on the back of an injury crisis and young players on international duty leaving Deila short-staffed for an 11-a-side game in training. Tierney was called up, impressed Deila and became a £25m player, under the tutelage of Brendan Rodgers first time around.

Sometimes you just don’t know what you have until you throw a player in at the deep end. Matthew Anderson must be worth a try at least. I’d say he’s earned it.

Niall J