Looking at Matt O’Riley’s 2021/22 season overall, the 21-year-old midfielder played a lot of football for someone who is still at the start of their career.

Including his time at MK Dons, the Denmark under-21 star played a total of 50 games, and scored 11 goals

That is a lot of football, but interesting Ange Postecoglou has looked to conserve his energy since O’Riley joined the Hoops. He has only completed one 90 minutes for Celtic, but that has not stopped him from managing to contribute to the side.

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In his time at Celtic, O’Riley contributed four goals and two assists, in 20 games, which is a more than decent return.

With the number of games he has played this season, O’Riley could follow in the footsteps of Celtic captain Callum McGregor and become an ‘iron man’ type of player, the sort of player that can play 50 plus games for club and country over a number of seasons.

If that can happen over the next few seasons, O’Riley will turn out to be one of the best signings made by Ange Postecoglou.

One of the smartest decisions that Celtic made when signing O’Riley was giving the player a deal until 2026, as you have to think that if the player continues to show the form that he showed in his first half-season at the Hoops, then clubs will be interested in signing the midfielder.

As the Hoops have O’Riley on a long-term contract, the Bhoys should get a lot of money for the player, if, for example, a team wants to sign him in 2024. 

Celtic won’t be thinking of selling the player anytime soon though, the Hoops will want to keep O’Riley for as long as possible, as it looks like he will be even more important to the team next season in the wake of Tom Rogic’s exit.

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At times last season Ange Postecoglou alternated between O’Riley and Rogic, but with Rogic having left Celtic then O’Riley looks to have a free run to hold down a place in the Hoops midfield.

Celtic will likely sign another attacking midfielder to provide competition in the squad, and David Turnbull should be fit and available for selection, but when season 2022/23 begins, O’Riley should be starting for the Hoops as the team’s main attacking midfielder.

That is testament to how well O’Riley has played for Celtic since joining the club, and there is no reason, as long as he stays fit, that O’Riley cannot continue to be one of Celtic’s most important players over the next few seasons.