Brendan Rodgers has given an “honest” assessment of Celtic’s current youth prospects, admitting that while there is talent within the ranks, the next wave of first-team-ready players are still some distance off.

The Celtic manager was asked about the club’s next generation following his attendance at the Glasgow Cup Final last week, a match where fans were eager to see who might follow in the footsteps of homegrown success stories like Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Tony Ralston, and Kieran Tierney.

While the club has invested heavily in its development structure in recent years, Rodgers made it clear that there’s no fast track to to the first team, and he’s not going to hand out opportunities for the sake of it.

 “It’s going to be a little bit of time. That’s the honest answer to that.

“The level of the Glasgow Cup final wasn’t a great game. That’s my view of the game. Obviously, the pitch wasn’t in the best condition at the back end of the season so the speed and the level of the game wasn’t of the highest quality.

“There’s some talented players here but it’s going to take them time and work and development in order to get the opportunity.

“If you look through my career, I’ve always played young players. I’ve played players as young as 16 years of age but it’s not meant to be easy. You don’t just give players, they have to earn it and they have to deserve it and they have to be warranted that opportunity through hard work and quality.” [Celtic TV]

While Celtic fans will be hoping for the next big academy breakthrough, Rodgers’ comments suggest patience will be required – and that only those who truly rise to the standard will be handed a place in the senior squad.

The likes of Jude Bonnar has been given his first professional minutes this season, and with Rodgers looking to make some changes to the squad in the final few league games, he could be in line for some more appearances. Kyle Ure won Academy Player of the Year and he’s someone that the manager might want to look at more closely.