Zion Pullan Impresses Again – Celtic’s Next Generation Is Coming

Zion Pullan is doing it again.

The 15-year-old has now stepped up to Celtic B level, starting against East Kilbride in the KDM Trophy. It was another significant step for a player who has already been tearing through the age groups, having reportedly registered 58 goals across the U15 and U17 sides last season before his overall goal involvement total passed 100.

And while we shouldn’t get carried away and start demanding Pullan plays for the first team tomorrow, this is exactly what Celtic should be doing with our best young players — challenging them.

But Pullan isn’t the only youngster catching the eye.

Clearie and Dwumah are coming too.

Lucas Clearie is another name of someone who is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

He has been finding the net regularly for the B team, with nine goals already listed this season.

Then there is Joel Dwumah, who is reportedly sitting on an incredible 12 goals in 15 games for the U15s.

These are the stories we should be talking about.

Not just the next £7m signing from abroad.

Not just another player Celtic can develop and eventually sell.

The academy is producing players.

The question is whether Celtic are going to give them a genuine pathway.

We need to protect these youngsters.

And this is where the proposed new Scottish football regulations could become really important.

The Scottish FA has proposed that, from the 2027/28 season, if approved, Scotland-eligible U21 players would have to average 60 minutes per game across the SPFL, while two eligible U21 players would have to start Scottish Cup and League Cup matches.

There would also be a £1m incentive fund, with Premiership clubs failing to hit the league target facing a proposed 10% deduction from their final-placing prize money. The proposals will be voted on in October and November.

That could be massive for Celtic.

Because players like Pullan, Clearie and Dwumah need more than praise on social media.

They need a pathway.

They need Celtic to know what their next step is supposed to be — U17 to U19, U19 to B team, B team to senior football, and ultimately into the first team.

We have already seen what happens when Celtic trust young players. Colby Donovan has stepped into senior football and shown he can compete. Now Pullan is being moved into tougher environments. Clearie is scoring regularly. Dwumah is putting up ridiculous numbers at U15 level.

This is exactly why the pathway matters.

And with Scottish football finally looking at regulations designed to force more opportunities for young players, Celtic cannot simply wait for the rules to tell us what we should already be doing.

We should be ahead of them.

Because somewhere in that academy could be the next McGregor.

The next Forrest.

The next big Celtic player.

Let’s make sure we don’t lose them before they ever get the chance to become one.