As a former national team manager himself, Ange Postecoglou has a dual understanding of both club and international football. And in Matt O’Riley the Celtic boss clearly sees a player, who having shown a seamless transition from League 1 football at MK Dons to the pressure and demands of playing under the most intense of scrutiny at Celtic, who can take the next step to full international honours in quick time.
So much so that Postecoglou as reported in Daily Record, believes O’Riley called up to Denmark’s Under-21 coach Jesper Sorensen’s side for Tuesday’s game with Belgium – can impress enough on Under -21 duty to put himself firmly in the thoughts of Kaspar Hjulmund’s plans for the full Danish international team, possibly in time for O’Riley to make the plane for the Qatar World Cup.
“I’m super pleased for him. International football will be great for him. It will add to him as a player and as a person, experiencing a different environment, even training with different types of players.
“It will be brilliant for him. I’ve said before, I think international football is great for players, especially young players, and I’m sure he’ll take a lot from it. I think it’s fully deserved as well. He was great before he came to us but since he came here he’s handled himself really well, particularly in big games.
“I’m sure in the back of his mind he’ll be thinking there’s a World Cup at the end of the year. It’s a big incentive for him. That’s what international football gives to players. Whether or not that comes too soon for him, who knows, but I’m sure he’ll do everything in his power.”
Matt O’Riley has impressed greatly at Celtic since signing in the January transfer window. The stylish midfielder has vision, an eye for a pass and movement on and off the ball that belies his 21 years. Many players have wilted under the business end of a football season at Celtic, yet despite the tightest of title races O’Riley has taken the demands and pressure bestowed on this Celtic team in his stride and has performed consistently.
The Danish call-up therefore is no surprise, nor will it be a shock if the stop off on his international journey at Under-21 level amounts to a brief appearance before he’s promoted the Denmark top team.
O’Riley’ media appearances and the intelligent way he talks about the tactical side of the game, as well as exhibiting a genuine understanding of his own strength and weaknesses, shows the key mental side of the game is in O’Riley’s armoury just as much as the grace he exhibits on the field of play.
At £1.5 m Celtic got a bit of a steal with the signing of Matt O’Riley, and with a bit of fortune, married to the hard work you can guarantee from O’Riley, the Hoops may find they also have another representative – to follow the likes of Kyogo Furuhashi, Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda – at this year’s World Cup – it would be quite the story.
Niall J
