Some Celtic fans are gushing about the Ireland international debut of their young defender Lee O’Connor last night.
The 19-year-old defender played for the Irish senior national side in the country’s 3-1 win over New Zealand in an international friendly last night. He started at right-back, while Tottenham Hotspur youngster Troy Parrott also made his international debut up front.
A product of the famed Manchester United youth academy, O’Connor has risen up the ranks in the Ireland setup but is yet to make his debut for the Bhoys this season. He also got an assist for Ireland against New Zealand last night.
But the youngster’s performance against the Kiwis brought out a reaction of delight from Celtic fans.
Lee O’Connor becomes one of the few players to make their senior international debut before making their senior club debut, time for @CelticFC to give him a shot #COYBIG #CelticFC pic.twitter.com/b6nI4XKV8b
— Kenny’s Kids (@KennysKids) November 14, 2019
Ready for first team football. Very good debut
— Darragh O’Reilly (@dor_86) November 14, 2019
they would be mad not to on his showing tonight. so composed on the ball.
— Kieran O’Brien (@KOBrien1977) November 14, 2019
Get Lee O’Connor starting against Livi next weekend https://t.co/QMC2kPWHop
— Shane White (@shanewhite96) November 14, 2019
Get him in the 1st team
— DC (@DeclanCarroll94) November 15, 2019
O’Connor joined Celtic from United this past summer for an undisclosed fee. For the United Under 23s last season, the defender had played 21 times in the Premier League 2. He had assisted once, playing regularly in all areas of the backline.
He had also played seven times for the Red Devils in the UEFA Youth League but had never trained with the club’s senior team.
For the Hoops so far this season, O’Connor is yet to make a single first-team appearance. Before arriving in Glasgow, he had played five times in all competitions for the United Under-23s and four of them came in the Premier League 2.
Some Celtic fans feel that there is still time before O’Connor plays first-team football for their club.
Needs loaned out I think, Frimpong, elhamadi and Bauer all in front of him Bauer is only a loan but. A loan to the likes of Kilmarnock will do him the world of good. He’s definitely one for the future at Celtic.
— Christopher Green (@derrycelt7) November 14, 2019
He’ll do well to dislodge Frimpong or Elhamed. But he definitely has promise
— Phelim Warren (@Freewheeler12) November 14, 2019
Before playing for the Irish senior team, O’Connor had played 14 times for the nation’s Under-19s side. He had also played just many times for the Under-17s side.
What do we think?
It is a fair judgment that O’Connor is the future of Celtic. While he did impress against New Zealand on his international debut, there is still time before he plays first-team football for the club.
Neil Lennon has had Hatem Abd Elhamed play at right-back, apart from Moritz Bauer and Jeremie Frimpong. But O’Connor’s versatility means that his chance can come sooner than expected. His integration into the first-team will be slow, but he will get his chance.