NEW CELTIC MANAGER Brendan Rodgers has praised the impact the younger players are having at the club, particularly Irish defender Eoghan O’Connell, after the Scottish Champions joined Dundalk in the Champions League play-off draw.
The Hoops edged past FC Astana at Parkhead on Wednesday night, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from 20-year-old French striker Moussa Dembele, but it was the Ireland U21 international, who has displaced Efe Ambrose at the heart of the defence, that earned special recognition from the former Liverpool manager.
“If you think, we had a 20-year-old at right-back, a 19-year-old at left-back, and a 20-year-old at centre-half, young boys further up the team and a young boy comes on and scores a penalty so at this level it is a very, very young team,” Rodgers said.
“But they are gaining experience and you have to give time to talent, encourage it, be supportive of it.
“They are going to make mistakes but if you trust them and stick them out there, hopefully you will get performances but he [O'Connell] in particular was very good.
“I thought he was outstanding. I have said before, I have been really impressed with him.
“For a young player who has been at Oldham and Cork on loan, to be put into the games he has been put into and shown that composure, he is a wonderful young footballer.
“He dominates in the air, so he wins his headers but if you want to reach the highest level you can, you have to be able to dominate the ball and as a kid he passes it very well.
“He has an in-built brain for the game and I am looking at his temperament.
“I see him in training. I don’t know how many games some players have played but if they show that temperament and composure, like he has over the couple of games, he is only going to get better and better.”
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