Celtic B goalkeeper Aidan Rice has secured an emergency loan move to Inverness Caledonian Thistle, stepping in as cover while Musa Dibaga is away on international duty with Gambia.
Dibaga is currently overseas for Gambia’s FIFA World Cup African qualifiers against Kenya and Ivory Coast, leaving Inverness in need of a short-term replacement.
A Quickfire Move
With Inverness set to face Alloa Athletic at home in League One tomorrow night, the club acted swiftly to bring in Rice. The 18-year-old shot-stopper has been a standout for Celtic B this season and will now get the opportunity to gain first-team experience in the Scottish lower leagues for one game.
Inverness manager Scott Kellacher was pleased with the move, praising Celtic’s academy staff for their assistance. Speaking to The Inverness Courier, he said, “We’ve got young Aidan in for one match, which is ideal – Chris McCart (head of Celtic’s academy) and Colin Meldrum (Celtic B team goalkeeping coach) have been brilliant in helping us out.”
A Rising Star for the Young Celts
Rice has been a mainstay for Celtic’s B team, featuring in the Lowland League and impressing in the UEFA Youth League. He played a key role in the young Celts’ European campaign, saving penalties in back-to-back matches as the team progressed to the knockout stages.
So far this season, he has made 11 appearances for Celtic B, keeping four clean sheets and earning a reputation as a dependable presence between the sticks. His performances have not gone unnoticed, and this loan spell could be a vital step in his development albeit for one game.
Settling in Quickly
Rice wasted no time in getting integrated at Inverness, training with his new teammates ahead of tomorrow’s fixture. Kellacher praised the young keeper’s early efforts, saying, “The young kid came in today and trained, and did ever so well. It’s a big gap to fill because Musa has been brilliant.”
Inverness goalkeeping coach Michael Fraser also worked with Rice upon his arrival, with Kellacher joking, “We were winding Michael up saying he might be involved on Saturday, but he said he wasn’t available!”
For Rice, this move presents an excellent opportunity to showcase his talent at senior level, and Celtic fans will be keen to see how he fares during his very brief stint up north.
