Who is Mitchel Frame and why does he deserve an opportunity?…
Mitchel Frame is a name which will be recognised by much of the Celtic support by now. Although yet to make his first team debut for the club, Frame signed a new three-year deal with the club in September, after reported interest from Premier League sides Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion.
The 17-year-old who starred for Scotland’s u17s at the European Championships in the summer, made the Celtic match-day squad for the first time this season in the 2-0 defeat in Rome over two weeks ago. He has featured 12 times for the B team this season, scoring one goal while also starting and playing every minute of his four appearances in the UEFA Youth League.
Frame is also a key part of a talented Scotland u19 squad who recently qualified for the Elite Round of Euros qualifying, playing every minute in qualifying games against Bulgaria, Andorra and Serbia.
Celtic’s left back options are bleak to say the least currently, with Greg Taylor enduring a poor run of form while Alessandro Bernabei has been largely outcasted by Rodgers this season, with the Argentinian not even registered in the Champions League squad and looks set for a January exit.
Frame is not involved with the u18 side today as they face Feyenoord in the UEFA Youth League, (Celtic are currently winning 2-1) and Rodgers could very well give the highly rated teenager a chance tonight.
68′ – Goal Feyenoord. The visitors pull a goal back
🟢2⃣-1⃣🔵#CelticFeyenoord | #UYL | #COYBIG🍀
— Celtic FC B (@CelticFCB) December 13, 2023
Given his obvious talent and his commitment to the club for the next three seasons, why shouldn’t the teenager be given a chance in the first team? Celtic have strayed from their commitments in bringing players through from the academy over the past number of years, and such incompetence has resulted in the club now struggling to hold onto their prized young talents.
The last academy prospect to break into Celtic’s first team as a consistent starter was Kieran Tierney, who made his first team debut at 17.
Frame, also a 17-year-old left back, should be given the same opportunity which was handed to Tierney all those years ago, as he replaced a steadily declining Emilio Izaguirre in the starting eleven. A debut for the highly rated teenager should be a foregone conclusion tonight, but a start for the 17-year-old under the lights at Celtic Park would be all the more special.
James French
Well after watching that late collapse Cel 2 Fey 3 , i wont be sorry to see the back of Vata , all he had to do was square it for a victory , gutted hope the first team do better , Hail hail .
Look at the first team collapses and they have experience, let the youngsters get experience then step up allow the mistakes early rather than just making them an easy target and outcast.
This aged well, eh? Bhoy did well versus Feyenoord tonight HH
This kid certainly didnt look out of place