Celtic midfielder James McCarthy made his second appearance of the season for the club’s B team last night. The Irishman started in a 7-0 win over Gretna 2008.
It was the young Hoops’ biggest win of the campaign to date, and McCarthy played just over an hour in it. The veteran began in the engine room alongside 19-year-old Mackenzie Carse and 18-year-old Daniel Kelly.
Signed as a free agent on a four-year deal in the summer of 2021, it is fair to say McCarthy’s move to Celtic hasn’t worked out. This season, he has played more games for the B side in Scotland’s fifth tier than for the senior team.
His contract still has a year and a half left on it and if no one comes in for him, one can see the 33-year-old seeing it out. McCarthy may well retire at Celtic, but it would be fair to say the money being shelled out on his wage could be better spent elsewhere considering his lack of contributions.