Seventeen-year-old Sean McArdle has described making his Celtic debut as a “surreal moment” after coming off the bench late in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Hibernian at Celtic Park.
The young midfielder was introduced in the 85th minute, replacing Reo Hatate, and immediately got a taste of first-team action in front of a packed home crowd.
After the match, McArdle took to Instagram to share his emotions, posting: “Such a surreal moment making my debut for my boyhood club. Just thankful for the opportunity and was really good to get result as well, hopefully many more to come.”
The post captured the pride and excitement of a lifelong fan stepping onto the pitch in green and white for the first time. McArdle, who has been part of the club’s youth setup, has impressed staff with his maturity and technical ability, earning his chance as Celtic look to the future with the title already secured.
Brendan Rodgers’ decision to hand the teenager his debut in a high-profile fixture underlines the manager’s willingness to reward young talent. Though his time on the pitch was brief, McArdle kept things tidy and composed, helping see out the game as the champions continued their strong end to the campaign.
The reception from the support and the trust from the coaching staff will no doubt be a huge boost for the midfielder. His debut marks a step in Celtic’s attempts to promote from within—and McArdle will now be hoping this is the first of many appearances for the club he grew up supporting.
