Dane Murray has earned his place in Celtic’s first-team squad for the new season after impressing Brendan Rodgers throughout pre-season and scoring in Friday’s 4-1 Premier Sports Cup win over Falkirk.
After playing the odd few games in the last half of last season, he’s now firmly in the senior squad.
The 22-year-old defender, who penned a new contract with the club last week, has emerged as one of the standout performers over the summer, with Rodgers making clear just how highly he rates the Scotland youth international.
Speaking ahead of Celtic’s Champions League play-off first leg against Kairat Almaty, the manager confirmed Murray will remain at the club rather than heading out on another loan.
Cameron Carter-Vickers currently holds down the right side of the central pairing, Murray faces stiff competition but Rodgers says he wouldn’t hesitate to throw him into high-stakes games if required.
“I would have no qualms with Dane,” Rodgers told CeltsAreHere. “What we have at the minute, we’ve got five centre-halves which I know through my experiences that you virtually need that throughout a long season, where players pick up injuries and whatnot.
“Dane came through his first pre-season since he was 18 this summer. It was his first complete one. Came through really, really well. And me looking at him and seeing him coming through, I’ve been a big admirer of him and I think he’s got all the tools to reach the very highest level. His size, his pace with the ball and once he gets a fraction more devilment, then he can be a really, really good player.
“His challenge now at the minute is he’s competing with Cameron Carter-Vickers, who’s been the stalwart here. Lots of clubs have asked about him on loan and that’s what I have to weigh up. Do I send him out? Do I keep him here? But no, he will stay here. He will contribute for us. And okay, at the beginning now he might not be playing every single week but I know against the Premiership team the other night I’ve no qualms. Boom, in you go.
“If he had to play tomorrow night I would have no qualms. But he’s competing on that right side with Cam. And I’m hopeful that over time he can really go on and show his qualities but more importantly I want him here and here to show what he can do for Celtic and there’s no doubt he’ll get games.
“So that’s Dane. I’m so happy for him. I’ve seen him play here in the game when he was 17, 18 and then he’s had a couple of horrendous injuries but he’s used that to his advantage. You see him now, he’s 6 ft 4 ins, his body, his shape, everything he’s really robust and strong and he looks like a proper centre-half. So I’ve been really pleased with Dane. Now he needs to work hard to get to sign the next one.”
It was a long and detailed answer from the manager, who clearly rates the player very, very highly.
He is due a chance in the first team, impressing in his appearances so far. Hopefully, he can put these injuries behind him, and really kick on in his career, and star in Celtic’s backline.
