This afternoon Celtic take on English Premier League side Newcastle United in our only pre-season match played at Paradise, and it’s a game that will test our squad to the full as Brendan Rodgers prepares his team for the new campaign.
Johnny Kenny of Celtic Sporting Lisbon v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 16 Jul 2025 Estadio Algarve Portugal Photo Carlos Rodrigues Shutterstock
Eddie Howes side qualified for the Champions League after a fifth place finish in England’s top flight, and boast a formidable pool of talent, so we will have to be at our strongest to get a positive result.
Confidence will be high in the Celtic camp after that magnificent performance and result in the Algarve on Wednesday evening against Portuguese Champions Sporting, another possible opponent in the Champions for Celtic, assuming that the Champions of Scotland get through their play-off round to make it into the group stages.
Sporting de Lisboa v Celtic FC – Pre-Season Friendly Johnny Kenny of Celtic FC runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo DAX Images
One man who should be high up in Brendan’s thoughts for a start today is Irish centre-forward Johnny Kenny. The Republic of Ireland under 21 international has been linked with a move away due to the recent acquisitions of Callum Osmand and Shin Yamada, and with Brendan also keen on more firepower the former Sligo Rovers man looks surplus to requirements.
However that didn’t stop him from putting in an impressive display in the second half of the 2-0 win over Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday night, and it was a showing that caught the eye of the supporters and undoubtedly Brendan himself.
With Adam Idah misfiring and Callum Osmand still finding his feet it makes sense to start the Sligo born striker against the Magpies. It fair to say that in all the pre-season games so far Johnny Kelly’s second half performance against a top side like Sporting was the best of all and that should earn him the chance to play from the start this afternoon.
Sporting de Lisboa v Celtic FC – Pre-Season Friendly Johnny Kenny of Celtic FC runs with the ball during the pre-season friendly match between Sporting de Lisboa and Celtic FC at Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal, on July 16, 2025. Faro Portugal Photo DAX Images
He more than deserves that opportunity, and could well give Brendan second thoughts about looking elsewhere for reinforcements.
Surely Celtic’s priority should be signing a couple of top quality wingers? For me, and many others judging by supporters’ opinions I’ve read, Johnny Kenny should remain at Celtic this season and be given his chance, starting today.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers gestures on the touchline Sporting Lisbon v Celtic, Pre Season Friendly, Football, Estadio Algarve, Portugal – 16 Jul 2025 Estadio Algarve Portugal Photo Carlos Rodrigues
Shutterstock
But it’s ultimately how Brendan Rodgers sees things and he’ll be picking the team today. Let’s hope for another great performance and another victory over another top side in Newcastle United. With their huge travelling support, it’s going to feel like a massive match in an old fashioned sort of way, the way football should be played with both sides having significant backing from their own support.
COYBIG
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter
Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered the late David Potter’s last ever Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which will be published on the fifth day of September by Celtic Star Books. The link to pre-order your copy is below…
Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter, out 5 September 2025. Available to pre-order now.
