How did Celtic’s Irish contingent fare over the international break?…
With domestic football returning this weekend, Celtic’s internationals return to club football having had varying levels of success on the international stage.
Celtics Scottish contingent enjoyed mixed success with Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor starting both drawn games for the Tartan Army, and the pair will now look forward to the European Championships in Germany next summer. Celtic had various players on international duty with Ireland at various levels from u19 right up until the senior team, here is how they got on:
Liam Scales
The Wicklow native continued his good form this season as he started in Amsterdam in Irelands 1-0 defeat against the Netherlands. In a more or less meaningless game for Ireland, Scales played the full 90 minutes at left centre half in a back three, rarely putting a foot wrong against an extremely talented Dutch front three.
The 25-year-old has started the last three competitive games for his country and can now add the Amsterdam Arena to the host of elite stadiums he has played at this season. Now a starter for club and country, Scales’s stock will only continue to rise as he plays more games in both green shirts.
Mikey Johnston
Celtic’s only other player involved in the Irish senior squad, Mikey Johnston has continued to impress in an Irish shirt as he featured in both games for Ireland over the international break. Although Johnston was limited to a brief cameo appearance in Amsterdam, his impressive performance against New Zealand has only strengthened his glowing reputation among Irish fans.
The 24-year-old tends to play with a sense of freedom in an Irish shirt that he fails to show when playing for his boyhood club. Pressure from Celtic fans is certainly a factor, but a factor Johnston should be more than accustomed to as he enjoys his eight season involved in the Celtic first team. A talented player who has been crucified by injuries, the academy graduate has struggled to see gametime this season and could very well move away from the club in January.
Bosun Lawal
On loan at Fleetwood town currently, Lawal is enjoying an impressive first half of the season. Not only a consistent starter for Fleetwood in League One since his loan move, the Dubliner has also started every game for the Ireland u21s as they look to become the first Irish side at the age group to qualify for the European Championships.
Over the course of the last international break, Lawal played 90 minutes in both games as his side narrowly lost 3-2 away to Norway and earned a deserved 1-1 draw against Italy in Cork. In particular his performance against the Azzurri, the 20-year-old stood out as one of the best players on the pitch. His composure on the ball, along with his freakish physicality were two attributes he displayed in abundance as he came up against a quality Italian attack.
Rocco Vata
The forgotten man at Celtic this season, Rocco Vata played all three games for Irelands u19s as they failed to qualify for the elite round of Euros u19 qualifying. Vata started on the wing in all three games for his country, as his side beat Albania 3-1, drew 0-0 with Slovenia and fell to a 1-0 loss against Belgium.
The 18-year-old, who has already been capped at u21 level, is highly rated in Irish footballing circles but has failed to feature in any games for Celtic this season. Speculation surrounds Vata’s future as he is yet to have contract talks with the club, the potential departure of the Irishman remains a damning inditement of the pathway to the first team the club provides for its academy talent. Are we even interested in keeping Rocco, who is perhaps the top talent currently in the Celtic youth system?
Johnny Kenny
Another Irishman who has endured a mixed career at Celtic so far, Johnny Kenny featured off the bench in both games for the Ireland u21’s, albeit both were relatively brief cameos. Kenny recently won the League of Ireland Premier Division with Shamrock Rovers, whom he is on loan at from Celtic.
The Sligo native endured a mixed season for the Irish hoops despite the clubs success, scoring five goals and registering four assists in the league this season. Kenny is a player with plenty of potential and has shown glimpses of the quality he possesses for club and country this year. His chances at Celtic seem to be remote to say the least.
James French
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