Celtic loan out Ryan Mullen to Cove Rangers

Celtic have loaned out their young goalkeeping prospect Ryan Mullen to Cove Rangers FC.

Mullen, who has featured at under-20 level for Celtic, will spend the 2020/21 season at Cove as an understudy to number one choice Stuart McKenzie.

The 19-year-old will also train under the tuition of new goalkeeping coach Alan Combe at the Balmoral Stadium as the young shot-stopping prospect looks to further his development.

Speaking to Cove Rangers’ club website, manager Paul Hartley declared:

We are grateful to Celtic for giving us the opportunity to work with Ryan. He is one of the most talented young Scottish goalkeepers in the game and joining us gives him the chance to push his career on a bit. It will be good for us to have Ryan competing with Stuart McKenzie for a starting place. Ryan will also benefit from working alongside Stuart and our new goalkeeping coach Alan Combe. We are very happy to get Ryan on board as we continue our build-up to the new season.

Mullen also penned a three-year contract extension with the Scottish champions in May. Mullen is highly rated and is seen as a strong prospect for wider Scottish football. He is the first-choice keeper for the Scotland Under-19 squad, whilst he has also made seven appearances for his country at Under-17 level.

Ryan earned plaudits for his performances at youth level for Celtic last season, including a 3-1 away win over Huddersfield Town and a memorable 1-0 victory over Chelsea U23s in London. All parties appear delighted with the loan as Mullen looks to see more first-team action.

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Given how far down the pecking order he would be at Celtic, this loan move should be a positive for Mullen as he will now get the chance to push for a starting place at Cove.

The prospect of playing regualrly should push the teenager on and if he can develop at a quciker rate whilst out on loan, then he’ll return to Celtic as a much better player, one who down the line could push to play in The Hoops first team.