Celtic Need to Look to Their Academy for Fresh Energy — Clearie, Kennedy and McArdle Deserve a Chance

Celtic are crying out for something different. The performances have become predictable, the confidence appears to be draining from the team and supporters are becoming increasingly frustrated with what they are watching.

So perhaps it is time for Martin O’Neill to look a little closer to home.

We spend plenty of time discussing transfer targets, experienced players and how much Celtic need to invest in January. But what about the talent already coming through our own academy?

There are young players who are making an impression at Celtic B, and three names in particular deserve to be on the first-team manager’s radar: Lucas Clearie, Liam Kennedy and Sean McArdle.

Lucas Clearie is perhaps the most obvious place to start.

The 17-year-old striker has been in outstanding goalscoring form, registering 15 goals in 13 appearances for Celtic B across the Lowland League and KDM Evolution Trophy. He has already trained with the first team ahead of the Europa League trip to Benfica, and his performances are making it increasingly difficult to ignore him.

Clearie is not simply scoring against the same level of opposition every week either. He has found the net against senior sides in the KDM Trophy and scored twice in a behind-closed-doors victory over Falkirk.

Nobody is suggesting that a teenager should suddenly become Celtic’s main striker, but why shouldn’t he be given opportunities from the bench?

Then there is Liam Kennedy.

Kennedy has continued his development through Celtic’s youth system and has been involved with the B-team environment. He has also had experience away from Celtic during his loan spell at East Kilbride, giving him an opportunity to develop in senior football.

He is another player who should be watched closely. Celtic need energy, competition and players who are desperate to make an impression. Young footballers coming through the academy often have that hunger in abundance.

Sean McArdle is another name supporters should be keeping an eye on.

The midfielder has already experienced first-team football, making his senior Celtic debut against Hibernian in May 2025. He has continued to feature for the B team and has shown an ability to contribute in important moments.

He scored the winner in Celtic B’s remarkable 4-3 comeback victory over Stranraer in September, after Lucas Clearie had completed a second-half hat-trick.

McArdle has already had a taste of what it means to represent the first team. Now the challenge is to turn that experience into a genuine opportunity to establish himself.

Of course, we need to be realistic. Throwing three youngsters into a struggling team and expecting them to transform everything would be unfair. They need the right environment, protection and a manager willing to give them meaningful opportunities.

But what exactly do we have to lose by introducing some fresh energy?

Celtic’s current performances are not suggesting that every established player deserves to keep their place. Competition should be welcomed, and nobody should be guaranteed a starting position simply because of their experience or reputation.

There is also a bigger issue with our approach to youth development. We cannot continue celebrating academy success while leaving talented youngsters wondering whether there is a genuine pathway into the first team.

Clearie, Kennedy and McArdle might not be the finished article, but they represent something this Celtic side desperately needs: enthusiasm, hunger and an opportunity to build something for the future.

We have spent too long looking for solutions elsewhere.

Perhaps it is time we started looking at Lennoxtown.

Give the young players a chance. Let them show what they can do. And, most importantly, give Celtic supporters something new to get excited about.