Celtic B have announced their lineup for their final Premier League International Cup match of the season against Southampton, notably missing Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly.
The absence of these two players from the squad comes after both featured for Celtic’s first team over the weekend, a clear indication of their growing importance within the club’s ranks.
🟢 Team News from Southampton ⚪️
Here is how the young Hoops line-up for their final #PLIC outing of the season 📋⤵️#SOUCEL | #COYBIG🍀 pic.twitter.com/gqYwfWSbdI
— Celtic FC B (@CelticFCB) January 24, 2024
Vata and Kelly’s involvement with the first team, along with their omission from the Celtic B squad for this cup tie, suggests that they are being considered for more significant roles.
Vata, in particular, has been in the spotlight recently, scoring his first senior goal for Celtic and is currently engaged in contract extension talks as his current deal nears its end.
This development could hint at the potential inclusion of both Vata and Kelly in the upcoming match against Ross County on Saturday.
Their recent elevation to train with the first team and subsequent absence from the B team’s lineup signals a possible readiness by manager Brendan Rodgers to integrate these promising talents more consistently into the senior team.