While his Celtic teammates are out in Austria readying themselves for a Scottish Premiership title defence and Champions League football, Adam Montgomery is just back from Portugal after joining his new St Johnstone teammates, as he looks forward to the start League Cup action with the Perth side in the coming weeks.
And it seems new boss Callum Davidson is already suitably impressed with the new recruit he picked up from Celtic on an initial loan deal to January 2023.
As reported in Record Sport Montgomery has already got some gametime under his belt, with Davidson impressed by the youngster’s energy levels during a 1-1 draw with Aberdeen in Saint’s final game before returning to Scotland.
“It was just a closed-doors game but we were up against good opposition and we performed at a decent level.
“Adam played about 70 minutes. I’m really pleased with him. He has great energy. Graham Carey rolled his ankle in training and will be out for a week or so.
“It was a great trip. We had a good week of double sessions. We’ve got a few wee niggly injuries that you get at this time of the year but we’re delighted to get the new boys involved and things are coming along nicely. There were a lot of positives.”
Adam Montgomery’s loan deal makes a lot of sense for all parties, it gives Callum Davidson left sided versatility from a player equally as adept as an attacking option as he is at full back, and it allows Montgomery an opportunity to develop at a top flight club in Scotland, where the manager will be able to keep an eye on his development at close quarters.
There is of course an argument as to whether the style of football St Johnstone play would necessarily suit the player, or aid his development as much as a club more renowned for passing football. However, until Celtic organise their pathway plans in a more bespoke manner to the individual talents of the player, this will always be an issue that crops up.
Hopefully with Ange Postecoglou starting to take a keen interest in the pathway plans of Celtic’s younger talent, the issue of club suitability for loan deals will also soon be addressed. Baby steps and all that!
For now, at the very least Adam Montgomery will be playing football week in week out at a club who operate in the same league as he’ll be expected to perform at when he returns to Celtic, and the signs are our on-loan left-back has certainly made a positive impression on his new boss already.
Niall J
