Five Reserve or loan players who could have a chance in the first-team next season

With football currently postponed until further notice in Scotland, Celtic may well have cast a thought to their plans for next season.

And if they are yet to do so, we’ve done it for them by taking a look at five players in the Reserves or out on loan who could have a chance of featuring in the first-team in the 2020/21 campaign.

CONOR HAZARD

With Craig Gordon looking likely to leave the club this summer and Fraser Forster’s loan spell expiring, Celtic may well call on Hazard to become part of the first-team squad.

The 22-year-old was enjoying an incredibly impressive 2020 before football was halted, with the shot-stopper conceding just one goal in six appearances since re-joining Dundee on loan in January, keeping five consecutive clean sheets.

That form suggests he has the ability to step it up a level and test himself in the Premiership with Celtic.

STEPHEN WELSH

Welsh made his Celtic debut earlier this year, and we expected to see him feature regularly in the squad after Neil Lennon hailed that performance against Hamilton Accies, but that is his only senior appearance to date.

With Kristoffer Ajer’s future looking uncertain following comments made by his agent, and Jozo Simunovic showing this season he still has injury problems, Welsh could be another who has a chance to step up next season.

LUCA CONNELL

Connell is yet to make his debut since signing from Bolton Wanderers last summer, but he has impressed for the Reserves and Lennon was reportedly looking to hand him his first Celtic appearance later this season.

The 18-year-old has been included in a number of first-team training sessions throughout the season, suggesting he is on the cusp of breaking into the squad, which bodes well for his chances in the 2020/21 campaign.

KARAMOKO DEMBELE

Perhaps one of the obvious choices for a player who could be in line for a first-team chance next term is Dembele.

The 17-year-old became the youngest ever player to have played for Celtic in Europe earlier this season when he came off the bench against CFR Cluj.

Lennon has also tipped him to make a positive impact at the club in the future, and hopefully that will become a reality next season.

JONATHAN AFOLABI

Another attacker who appears to have a promising future at Celtic is Afolabi.

The 20-year-old impressed Lennon and his backroom staff in the first half of the campaign with his performances for the Reserves.

Furthermore, Afolabi also has his sights set on breaking into the first-team next season, and if this season is able to finish, a strong end to the campaign could bolster his chances of doing just that.

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