Motherwell right-back Stephen O’Donnell, who came through Celtic’s academy as a youngster, thinks Hoops midfielder Matt O’Riley is very similar to club legend Tom Rogic.
This season, the Dane has been outstanding. He has registered 30 goal contributions across all competitions and is thoroughly deserving of his PFA Player of the Year nomination.
Links to recent Scudetto winners Internazionale come as no surprise, with O’Riley taking his game to new heights in 2023/24. Brendan Rodgers’ return to Celtic seems to have benefitted the 23-year-old massively.
A tall, left-footed attacking midfield player who is capable of scoring sensational goals, the similarities between O’Riley and the great Rogic are clear.
When he joined under Ange Postecoglou, it felt as though the former MK Dons man was the long-term replacement for the Aussie, and that has turned out to be the case.
O’Donnell, who has played against both several times, can’t get away from the likeness of the pair.
He said: [Go Radio Football Show] “The way he receives the ball when you’re playing against him, I think it’s one of the hardest skills.
“The way he does it, he makes it look effortless.
“The talent he’s got, the ability, he reminds me of Tom Rogic in a sense.”
