CELTIC would have marked their Player of the Year event at the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow’s City Centre as they have done for a number of years. However, this year there was no awards ceremony due to Coronavirus meaning that the winners had to receive their awards at home meaning they couldn’t appreciate the adulation of the supporters and their colleagues.
Scott Brown has paid tribute to the Celtic Young Player of the Year, Jeremie Frimpong, when speaking to the Celtic website. The 19-year-old arrived at Celtic to little fanfare but finished the season as an integral part of the first team.
Brown commended Frimpong for transforming from a youngster to a fully fledged first team player, who adds another attacking dimension to the right side as well as solidity in defence.
“I don’t think many people knew Jeremie from Man City, but the gaffer and John Kennedy were absolutely delighted with him when he came in. It was one of those ones where during the first few days at training, we were like. ‘Wow! He’s quick.’
Frimpong made 22 appearances across all competitions, which appears low considering how influential he was. The right-back only started to play regularly in October, taking a chance to put himself ahead of Moritz Bauer in the manager’s estimations. Frimpong was a threat at the other end of the park too, which Brown mentions.
“Then he started growing into a proper right-back, he’s learning how we play as well. Especially at Celtic Park, we play with two full-backs who want to go forward and he’s got the pace to go forward and back, he’s got composure on the ball and he’s even chipped in with some goals as well. The one he scored in Aberdeen, he couldn’t miss it, but he tried his best!”
He scored a goal versus Aberdeen at Pittodrie, a move which he started, before interplay with Edouard, culminating in Frimpong having an easy tap-in as Celtic came out on top with a 4-0 win. Frimpong also had his first medal in the League Cup win over Rangers. Frimpong was sent off but his performance in the first half earned plaudits in a game where Celtic were far from their best.
