CONFIDENT Colby Donovan is ready to answer Celtic’s SOS over the right-back problem.
Anthony Ralston is struggling with the persistent ankle injury that saw him withdraw from the Scotland squad for this evening’s World Cup qualifier against Denmark in Copenhagen, as CQN reported yesterday.
And Canadian international Alistair Johnston is expected to be out for another TEN weeks with the hamstring problem which saw him stretchered off in the first-half of the 0-0 Champions League draw with Kairat Almaty in the first leg.
Donovan, who celebrates his 19th birthday on Sunday, could now get the nod from Brendan Rodgers for the Premiership encounter against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park next weekend.
BY THE RIGHT…raiding defender Colby Donovan fires over a cross in Celtic’s pre-season friendly against Queen’s Park in July.
The youngster was involved in the Hoops gaffer’s pre-season plans and played in the first friendly of the summer, the 1-0 win over Queen’s Park at the City Ground on July 4.
He also scored the winning goal against Cork City in the Cork Super Cup showpiece.
Donovan has also made substitute appearances in the 3-0 league victory over Livingston at Parkhead and the disappointing goalless draw against Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan as the team’s Champions League hopes took a nosedive.
However, the teenager is more than ready to step up to the plate against Killie and said: “I heard about Tony’s injury. It’s not good news because he is a great player for Celtic. He will be a big loss.
“But I am a confident player and nothing really fazes me. So, I will get right to it.
“I’ve come on leaps and bounds as a player and had a good start to the season.
“I got to make my senior debut against Livingston and I also got to play in the Champions League. Now I just need to keep it going.
“The gaffer has always told me that he likes me as a player and he admires my confidence.
“I always knew if I kept my head down and kept working, I would be in and about the first team.
“It’s always good to hear that the manager recognises you and has trust in you. So when I heard that coming from him, I was really thrilled.”
THAT’S MY BHOY…Colby Donovan is congratulated after his winnner in the Cork Super Cup.
Donovan, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Tony is such a good player for club and country.
“For me to look up to him and Alistair Johnston, I don’t think you could get a better pair to learn from.
“Training with them week in, week out, makes me better both as a player and a person. They both just tell me not to let my head drift, to keep focused on what you are doing and the football will take care of itself.
“Last year, I got to go away with the first team to America and that was my first taste of it.
“It’s been step-by-step for me. But I was with the team in Kazakhstan, which was a pretty crazy journey because I was not used to that long a flight.
“It was a great experience and it was just unlucky we didn’t get through.”
Before that, though, Donovan is poised to play for Scot Gemmill’s Scotland Under-21s in their opening Euro 2027 qualifier in the Czech Republic this evening.
