Celtic loanee Matthew Anderson has been making a strong impression during his time in Austria with Admira Wacker. The young left-back is eyeing a big finish to the season, with his side currently leading the Austrian second tier by four points over SV Ried. With promotion to the top flight in sight, Anderson is determined to see out his loan spell on a high.

Embracing the Challenge in Austria

Speaking to The Herald, Anderson reflected on his experience so far, highlighting the quality of football in the Austrian second tier.

“The standard is really good in the Bundesliga second tier. That would maybe surprise folk because it’s unknown to us,” he admitted. “But if we were to get promoted, we would be playing against the likes of Red Bull Salzburg, Rapid Vienna, and Sturm Graz.”

The challenge of playing abroad has given Anderson the chance to test himself in a different footballing environment, and he believes the experience is helping him grow as a player.

Developing His Game

The 21-year-old has already gained valuable experience playing for Celtic’s B team in the Lowland League, where he had to adapt to the physical side of the game. However, he has noticed a contrast in styles in Austria.

“I learned the physical side of the game playing for Celtic in the Lowland League, but over in Austria, I feel it’s more technical so I am learning that side of it too,” he said.

Anderson feels he has made significant progress in his development, thanks to the demands of playing regularly in a competitive league. His main focus now is helping Admira secure promotion to the Austrian Bundesliga before returning to Celtic.

Strong Celtic Support Network

Anderson also spoke about the continued support from Celtic, particularly from the Hoops’ pathways manager Darren O’Dea. The former Hoops defender has been keeping a close eye on his progress.

“Darren O’Dea, our pathways manager, is always in contact with us and he has come out a few times and is planning on coming out before the end of the season too. He’s been great for me and Ben.”

Ben, in this case, refers to fellow Celtic loanee Ben Summers, who has also been enjoying regular minutes at Admira. The pair have played nearly every game together, forming a strong partnership that has been beneficial to both their development and the club’s promotion push.

Looking Ahead

With the season entering the business, Anderson’s focus remains on winning the league with Admira and securing promotion before his loan spell ends. His performances in Austria will no doubt be monitored closely by Celtic, and should Admira make the step up, it would be a fantastic achievement for the young defender to have played a key role in their success.

Whether Anderson returns to fight for a place in Brendan Rodgers’ squad next season or heads out on another loan to gain further experience, his time in Austria has certainly been a valuable learning curve. Celtic fans will be hoping to see him continue his development and push for first-team opportunities in the near future.