Celtic midfielder Liam Shaw has been restricted to just one first team start this season. The young Englishman joined from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer, where he was one of the few bright sparks, alongside Osaze Urhoghide, in an otherwise toiling team. However, chances have been few and far between since going north of the border.
Shaw has been sent out to Motherwell on loan, where it is hoped that regular game time can help the player develop in the second half of the season.
Loan moves have been fruitful for Celtic players in recent years, not least in the cases of Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor.
Speaking about the latter, Shaw told the Daily Record:
“You look at the likes of Callum McGregor, he’s so unbelievably consistent. He’s like a seven or eight every single game and he’s a guy I look up to.
“He had a loan spell as well so I’d definitely like to follow him. He’s got a bit of everything in his game. You rarely see him give the ball away, he’s got great energy, loves a tackle and he scores and creates goals as well.
“Cal can play anywhere in midfield as well. He’s been good with me, everyone at Celtic made me feel really welcome. It’s the same here.
“A few of the lads said it was a great move, to have no regrets and give it everything.”
Giving his own views on the temporary departure from Paradise, Shaw commented:
“I’m really looking forward to getting back out playing games.
“It was a joint decision. The Celtic gaffer told me I needed more games at this time in my career and I agreed. I need to be playing and getting experience in this league.
“No one likes not playing but I have developed in these last six months in training. Now I want to be on the pitch and hopefully I’ll do that here (Motherwell).”
Far from closing the book on his Celtic career at such an early stage, both Shaw and Postecoglou see the move as a positive step for his future chances at the club.
“The manager told me to come back next pre-season and hopefully I’ll be more involved,” Shaw explained.
He added the caveat: “There are so many good players at Celtic, it’s hard to break through. But I’ll just keep my head down and keep working hard, so I go back ready to go.”
Having had a sensational to life in professional football, the Englishman found the mental side of not playing regularly a little tough. He admitted: “As a footballer you are constantly dealing with self doubt and looking at yourself. But playing against Betis – a team that was second in the Spanish league – I felt I could cope with that.
“I did all right considering I hadn’t played much football. It was massive for my confidence.”
Hopefully he can kick on for the remainder of the campaign and inadvertedly help Celtic’s title challenge with some strong performances against the top half of the SPFL.
“I got Covid so I spent the break in bed,” Shaw said, but he has since recovered and insists he is now “ready to go.”
