AT the start of July, CQN compiled a list of ten players we believed would be heading for the Celtic exit before the midnight deadline on September 1.
Nine players on our roll call of possible departures did make the move on either permanent or temporary arrangements.
Christopher Jullien (Montpellier), Boli Bolingoli (Mechelen) and Ross Doohan (Tranmere Rovers) decided their futures lay elsewhere.
Going out on loan were Mikey Johnston (Vitoria Guimaraes), Albian Ajeti (Sturm Graz), Ismaila Soro (FC Arouca), Osaze Urhoghide (KV Oostende), Liam Shaw (Morecambe) and Johnny Kenny (Queen’s Park).
TEENAGE DEBUTANT…Scott Robertson in action during his first Celtic appearance against Cluj in Romania in December 2019.
That left just one name missing from CQN‘s compilation – midfielder Scott Robertson, who had previous temporary switches at Doncaster Rovers, Gillingham and Crewe.
The anchorman was returned early to the Hoops in March after suffering a cartilage injury at League One Crewe.
Thankfully, the youngster, who was introduced to the first team as an 18-year-old by Neil Lennon in a 2-0 loss to Cluj in Romania in a Europa League outing in December 2019, has made a full recovery and is eager to show what he can contribute at the champions.
However, it is difficult to see where Ange Postecoglou can fit the Lenzie-born player into his squad, especially after signing two holding midfielders in Aaron Mooy and Oliver Abildgaard in this window.
Yosuke Ideguchi arrived along with J-League colleagues Reo Hatate and Daizen Maeda at the turn of the year and James McCarthy had been recruited the previous summer after leaving Crystal Palace.
BEST FOOT FORWARD…Scott Robertson in action at Crewe before injury struck.
Robertson has been on the outside looking in with his loan moves to the lower reaches of English football where he made 58 first-team appearances across the board.
Which poses the question: What now for the 21-year-old middle of the park combatant?
Robertson, speaking to the Daily Record in June, said: “Confidence is something I have never lacked. I believe in myself and that I’m good enough to play for Celtic.
“You always need to back yourself as nobody is going to make things easy. You need to prove yourself and earn your way into a club of this stature – that’s my aim.
ON THE MOVE…Scott Robertson is on the ball.
“Every loan spell I’ve had has always been about getting into Celtic’s first team, that’s always been my first thought. Going on loan has never been about a holiday away from Lennoxtown.
”You can see how well Anthony Ralston has done. I look at what he has achieved and it’s a path which I’m aiming to replicate.
“It has been well documented that he probably thought his time was up at Celtic, but he grabbed his opportunity and turned everything around. It shows what you can do if you adopt that mindset.”
Robertson is now in the last year of his contract and it will be intriguing to see what the future has in store for the youngster.
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