Colby Donovan has described his Europa League debut for Celtic as a “dream come true” after impressing in the 1-1 draw with Red Star Belgrade.
Donovan, who only made his first-team breakthrough earlier this season, played with maturity well beyond his years. Defensively he was alert and aggressive, while also showing the confidence to get forward and support the attack.
The youngster admitted afterwards that there were nerves in the build-up, but he quickly settled into the game once the whistle blew. The hostile atmosphere in Belgrade, far from intimidating him, seemed to spur him and his teammates on.
Donovan reflected on the experience and the boost it has given him at the start of his Celtic career.
He said: (TNT Sports), “It was brilliant. To get the start and to come into a big game, I know it’s a hard place to come and to put me in starting and put the performance I did put in and get the point over here. It’s brilliant, I’m just over the moon.
“It was a bit of nerves, but you’ve always got to have nerves as a young player going in. As soon as I heard the first whistle, it was time to go, time to work.
“You hear the crowd behind you as you come out for the warm-up and they’re just on you non-stop. But as a team, it makes us want to play better, it wants us to go forward more.
“Yeah, it gives you a big confidence boost coming in for the gaffer. He’s a top, top manager and seeing it come from him, it’s just, I’m over the moon, man. It’s brilliant.”
Donovan’s comments reflect the confidence and personality Rodgers has often highlighted when discussing the youngster. The Celtic boss has praised his attitude in training and his willingness to play without fear, traits that were on show in Serbia.
For a player making just his first European start, it was a significant step forward. Donovan showed composure under pressure and the resilience needed to perform in Europe’s most demanding environments.
His emergence has come at an important time for Celtic, with injuries leaving gaps at the back and Rodgers looking to trusted youth to fill them. Donovan’s showing suggests he could have a key role as the season develops.
The draw in Belgrade was a positive start for Celtic, and Donovan’s performance will only increase belief that the club’s academy can continue to produce players capable of making an impact on the European stage.
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