Stephen McManus is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge facing Celtic’s young prospects. Having walked the path from academy hopeful to first-team captain, he now oversees the B team with a sharp focus on ensuring that pathway remains open.
The former defender knows that talent alone isn’t enough. Progressing through the ranks demands consistency, resilience, and crucially opportunity. That’s where McManus comes in, pushing to bridge the gap between youth squads and Brendan Rodgers’ senior side.
With Greg Taylor moving on and Kieran Tierney having returned home, changes are already underway in the left-back department. Tierney’s quality is unquestionable, but his fitness record means there could be room for rotation, and McManus believes that opens the door for someone to step in.
Matthew Anderson is one of the players now being closely monitored. The 21-year-old spent last season gaining senior experience in Austria with feeder side Admira Wacker and has long been regarded as one of the standout talents coming through at the club.
Matthew Anderson & Ben Summers join in table-topping celebrations 🏴 🇦🇹
The 2004 born Celtic loanees both played 89 minutes of Admira Wacker’s Friday night victory which keeps them top of the Austrian 2nd tier.
Team are undefeated when Anderson plays 👀 pic.twitter.com/eexhENQNtF
— The Young Team 🏴 (@The_Young_Team) February 23, 2025
McManus said: (RecordSport), “He’s got a massive future in the game, absolutely massive. He’s a terrific boy with a brilliant family, and again, you can only stay with us, with the B team, for a couple of seasons.
“Matthew outgrew the B team two years ago. That’s why he’s not played for the B team. That’s why the next stage of his development was to go out and loan.
“Some people make their debut at 16 and then go and play for the rest of their careers. Some people are 21, 20, they need to go a different route. That’s fine, that’s fine.
“But what you need to do is, when you get an opportunity, you need to try and become a football player, and that’s what Matthew’s done.
“He’s a terrific boy, terrific worker for a terrific family, and he’ll be a top player. He’ll be a top player.”
With Tierney likely to be eased back in, Anderson could find himself in the mix for valuable minutes if he catches Brendan Rodgers’ eye during pre-season. The timing couldn’t be better for the young left-back, who has now reached a point in his career where development must turn into action.
Celtic have made it clear they want a stronger link between their academy and the first team, and Anderson fits the profile: technically sharp, physically ready, and tested outside the bubble of Lennoxtown.
McManus’ message is clear, the route is still there for those who show they’re ready. Anderson’s next few months could define whether he becomes the next to make the leap.
