This is the start of a crucial period for Celtic, so can they start to build momentum?
On Sunday lunchtime, the Hoops travel to Dens Park to face Dundee, looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the Premiership season.
Despite battling back to beat Motherwell 3-2 last time out, the Celts are not top, needing to keep pace with current league leaders Hearts, who they will face at Tynecastle next Sunday.
Meantime, having yielded just a solitary point from their opening two Europa League fixtures, Brendan Rodgers’ side really need to pick up points against Sturm Graz and then Midtjylland, because the European games only get tougher after that.
So, if the Scottish champions are going to go on a winning run, should Rodgers, belatedly, let the shackles off his forgotten youngster?
Celtic's best loan signings
Given Celtic’s ability to develop young players, clubs higher up the global food chain often entrust the Glasgow giants with highly-rated youngsters.
Over the last decade or so, the Celts have enjoyed plenty of excellent loan signings, as the table below documents.
Adam Idah*
76
29
Daizen Maeda*
171
65
Jota*
99
33
Cameron Carter-Vickers*
170
8
Mohamed Elyounoussi
67
25
Odsonne Édouard*
179
87
Patrick Roberts
78
18
*loan deal made permanent.
As the table documents, Celtic have taken many high-class players on loan during the last decade, many of whom remained in Glasgow on a more permanent basis thereafter, including current first team stars Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Daizen Maeda.
Others, meantime were at the club for a mere fleeting moment, which is certainly the case for Patrick Roberts.
After being poached from Fulham by Manchester City, Roberts was sent out on loan to six different clubs, but he certainly made the biggest impression at the first of these north of the border.
The Englishman, labelled “magic” by former Celtic manager Tony Mowbray, showed numerous flashes of brilliance during his two and a half year loan spell at Parkhead, including scoring against both Anderlecht and parent club Man City in the Champions League.
It remains the case that, of all ten clubs Roberts has represented, only for Sunderland has he appeared more times than at Celtic, leaving a long-lasting possession, but which member of the current squad could replicate his success?
Celtic's forgotten loanee
Considering Celtic made 11 new signings during the summer transfer window, it is easy to forget one or two, especially those still yet to debut.
Well, Jahmai Simpson-Pusey very much falls into the category of forgotten man, having arrived on a season-long loan from Manchester City in early August.
So far, the 19-year-old centre-back has been an unused substitute for both legs against Kairat, but hasn’t even been on the bench for any of the Premiership fixtures, also left out of the Europa League squad too.
His first appearance in Hoops came for the B team earlier this month, starting a 5-3 defeat to East Fife in the KDM Evolution Trophy at Bayview, which is probably not what he envisaged when he made the move.
Upon his arrival, Rodgers described him as a “strong… quick and dominant centre half”, adding “he will be an important, quality addition to our squad”, which has very much not been the case so far.
Despite seemingly not being trusted by Rodgers, Simpson-Pusey does boast an impressive CV.
He was named Premier League 2 player of the season last year, winning the under-21 Premier League title and an FA Youth Cup in Manchester City colours.
He is also not a stranger to senior football; when Pep Guardiola’s team were enduring an injury crisis around a year ago, the teenager made six first-team appearances, starting against Sporting in the Champions League, Brighton in the Premier League and then Salford in the FA Cup.
Guardiola praised Simpson-Pusey’s “composure and duels”, pleased that the youngster “played really good” despite difficult circumstances.
So, why should he be given a chance at Dens Park on Sunday?
Well, the second centre-back position alongside Carter-Vickers is very much up for grabs, with Liam Scales the current incumbent of that spot, although Rodgers has favoured Auston Trusty in the not-too-distant past.
Meantime, following Sunday’s trip to the city of discovery, Celtic’s next five opponents are Sturm Graz, Hearts, Falkirk, Rangers and Midtjylland so, if Simpson-Pusey isn’t given a chance to stake a claim at Dens, he may remain in the wilderness for another month.
During Rodgers’ first stint in charge, Roberts proved that Man City youngsters, with very little senior experience, can make a big impression if given an opportunity, so will we see Simpson-Pusey make his debut sooner rather than later?
