OPINION
There is nothing quite like seeing a homegrown player make their debut in front of their home crowd and for the fans at Celtic Park it appears as though that prospect could become reality in the not-too-distant future.
The Parkhead faithful love to see young talents come through their youth system and into the first team – the likes of James Forrest and Kieran Tierney having established themselves into the history books in the green and white half of Glasgow – but with a title race and cup glory on the cards it can be difficult to find playing time for them.
However, the Scottish Sun suggest that there could be not one but two new players to add to the list, with 15-year-old Karamoko Dembele and 16-year-old Armstrong Okoflex said to be closing in on the first team.
Having been pictured taking part in senior training sessions among Brendan Rodgers’ stars, the report states that Dembele’s 16th birthday this week will have him edging ever closer to his Parkhead bow, while Okoflex is said to have been included among the matchday squad against Kilmarnock, suggesting he is right on the brink of a debut.
The January arrivals might have threatened to set back the starlets’ progression to the first team but it sounds as though they will be given their chance to shine before the season is out – and you can be sure all of Parkhead will be ready to erupt when they do.
It is an exciting time for the Hoops with not one but two prodigious talents on the verge of their breakthrough and they could well be the next pair to write their name into folklore at Celtic Park.
Dembele and Okoflex leading the line – could they be the new Sutton and Larsson?