Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has urged fans and the media not to hype up Hoops youngster Francis Turley.
The teenage midfielder made his senior Hoops debut in Sunday’s 3-0 win over St. Mirren in Paisley, coming on for the last few minutes of the match.
The 18-year-old impressed Rodgers and his senior teammates in pre-season training and has stayed with the squad for the first few games of the new campaign.
He penned a new four-year deal a few weeks ago and looks to have a promising future ahead of him.
Still just a teen, though, the Parkhead boss has pleaded for patience with the young midfielder.
Rodgers admitted Turley still has room for growth, but that he doesn’t need to go out on loan.
“He needs to stay”, said the boss (The Celtic Way on YouTube).
“He still has a lot of maturation and what we don’t need to do is put a lot of hype into a young 18-year-old player.
“He’s a talent, and we’ve seen talents leave here because they’re impatient, I don’t see that.
“I’ve been with Francis over the summer, he signed a new deal, we had his family in, they trust the club, which is important in the player’s development.”
Rodgers is never shy of giving youth a chance. Mitchel Frame, Daniel Kelly, and now Turley have all been given senior debuts since the Irishman returned to the club.
Perhaps young Turkey can be the one who truly kicks on and makes an impact.
