Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed the one Celtic defender who he believes can rise to the top of the game.
With Rodgers changing the back four and goalkeeper ahead of the game, opportunities were given to the likes of Viljami Sinisalo, Jeffrey Schlupp, and Dane Murray against Raith Rovers.
For Murray, it would be his first start for Celtic since July 2021, when he featured against Midtjylland in the Hoops’ second leg of Champions League qualifying in Ange Postecoglou’s second competitive game as manager.
However, despite not starting a competitive game for Celtic in over three and a half years, he is still only 21 years old and could be an option at the heart of defence for years to come.
With injuries plaguing his career since his Celtic debut in 2021, he has now fought back with a stellar loan spell at Queen’s Park in the first half of the season, leading to a recall. Rodgers has revealed how he sees Murray’s future at the club.
He said: (The Celtic Way), “I am so pleased for Dane Murray. I really think that he can be a really top player.
“I’ve seen him play here when I was away from Celtic, seen him play, I think it was a Midtyjylland game when he was a young boy at 17, and I was impressed with him that night. He was playing with the left-side centre-half, I think.
“Obviously, a real challenge in time of injuries, but he didn’t accept it. He went away and worked on his body, and you see him now out on the pitch. His power, his speed, his dominance, and he can play football. So I’m very, very pleased for him, because as I said, that’s the first time since that game he’s played.”
Murray is clearly still developing, but a clean sheet in his first start in years can’t be frowned upon, especially considering that Rodgers was willing to allow Stephen Welsh to go on loan to Belgium for the rest of the season.
With Murray now fourth-choice at centre-back, it shows the faith the Irishman has in the young defender.
Rodgers is known for nurturing young players into regular starters, and with much made of the lack of youth team prospects making it into the first team and being given opportunities, it was great to see the Celtic boss give Murray a start this evening.
