COLBY DONOVAN was a stand-out stand-in as Celtic overcame LASK 3-0 in last week’s first leg of the Champions League play-off.
The 19-year-old right-back got the nod from Martin O’Neill to take over from Alistair Johnston after the Canadian suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury at half-time in the 5-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park in the second game of the season.
Donovan was promoted to the position ahead of Scotland World Cup defender Anthony Ralston and the youngster is preparing to play against the Austrians in tomorrow night’s return leg in Linz.
The Hoops repelled some sustained late pressure from LASK in Glasgow to keep Viljami Sinisalo’s goal intact and O’Neill singled out Donovan for some special praise – and admitted there are two other teenagers who are on the brink of a breakthrough.
TEENAGE KICKS…Colby Donovan is leading the way for the Celtic kids.
The veteran gaffer said: “It was great, really, really great. I suppose it was probably epitomised by Colby, throwing his body in there and getting challenges in. He really stuck to the task.
“Funnily enough, in some of the European games last season, he stepped up well for us, too.
“He may not have all the things that Alistair Johnston possesses, but he has a massive heart.”
New Scotland boss Sebastien Pocognoli was in the Parkhead stand to take in the encounter and must have been impressed with Donovan’s display.
Asked if the Under-21 cap could gatecrash the full international set-up, O’Neill, speaking to the Scottish Sun, answered: “That will be up to the Scotland manager to decide that, but if it was on pure heart alone, Colby would be the captain!
“It’s really nice to see him doing so well.
“I know I have signed some foreign players and I know there are questions being asked about the dearth of young Scottish players coming through.
“I think back to my early playing days and every side in the First Division — what they call the Premier League now — had Scots.
GREEN FOR GO…Colby Donovan on the ball in the 5-1 win at Kilmarnock.
“Could Colby coming through at Celtic give hope to the younger lads at the club? I’d hope so.”
O’Neill added: “We have got a couple of young lads playing in the B team who I think will be really good players.
“By the time they are, I will be well and truly gone, but they will be good players.
“They are only 17 now, one called Liam Kennedy, who is a really good footballer.
“I am also hoping that wee Sean McArdle can push on and come right through. We need a wee bit of luck somewhere along the way, but we have one or two lads here who I would love to watch at Hampden one day playing for Scotland.”
In the meantime, the focus is on the crucial confrontation in Austria and the battle to make sure the name of Celtic is in Thursday’s ballot in Monaco.
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