McCart delight as young Celts sign new dealsTHE Celtic Youth Academy is delighted to have secured two of the club’s brightest prospects on professional contracts.
Michael Miller, a regular at right-back for the Under-19s this season since moving up from the U17s, has penned a two-and-a-half year deal.
And Jamie Lindsay, who remains eligible for the U17s but has been involved in U19s squad, and played in games for the Development Side, has signed a three-year contract.
Both of the youngsters have been part of the club's Academy since the age of 10, and Celtic’s Head of Youth, Chris McCart, was thrilled that they have agreed to continue their development at the club.
Speaking to the official Celtic website, he said: “They have signed their first professional contract so we are delighted.
“Michael is an under-18 and Jamie is an under-17, but both have been in our Academy since the age of 10, so we’re delighted they have made the progress through.
“Michael has progressed into the NextGen games and played all the U19s games this year.
"Jamie has been consistent with the 17s and has been involved with the 19s, and he’s also played a few Development side games recently. So they are two exciting players we are delighted to have signed up.”
The announcement follows the news that young keeper, Robbie Thomson, has agreed a new two-and-a-half year deal.
Last month, Joe Chalmers, Marcus Fraser, John Herron and Paul George also extended their stay in Paradise for a further three years.
Fraser, George, along with Dylan McGeouch and Filip Twardzik, also earned their first-team debuts recently.
Delighted by those developments, McCart also praised the manager for giving the young players their opportunity.
“It’s a very good batch of young players who have all been involved with the 19s, the Development Squad and have had a taste of the first-team as well,” he said.
“The Academy is a strategic part. We have to develop the players and move them on, and the manager has been fantastic by giving them opportunity to train with them, and putting them on the bench. He has given also four young players their debut this year.
“So there is real light at the end of the tunnel in that they know if they put their head down and work hard and catch the manager’s eye, then they could get an opportunity."
However, McCart stressed that the players need to maintain that same work-rate and commitment to make the next level.
“When young players get either their first or second contract, they are on the second rung of the ladder and the next phase is probably the most crucial,” he explained.
“They need to start working on getting their next contract. It’s the same with all young players. They can’t rely on what happened last week or last season, they need to make sure they keep on progressing.
“But they all seem to be very sensible with a great attitude and technically they are very good. We hope this commitment from the club will give them the assurance and belief to develop along the way and hopefully progress into the first-team."
Having Academy graduates becoming key members of the top-team squad remains the ultimate objective, and McCart believes the example of James Forrest serves as a marker for the next batch aiming to make the breakthrough.
“We’ve got a real good group now starting to come through,” he said. “We just hope they can emulate a James Forrest. It’s great they are making their debuts and getting involved.
“But you really need the consistency - making sure they can be an actual choice in the squad, playing every week for the first-team and racking up their appearances – that’s what we are looking for.
“James Forrest is in that process just now, where you can say he’s an integral part of the first-team, and that’s what the young players have to try and emulate now.”
von McCeltic » Mi 7. Dez 2011, 21:43 
MON THE MINI-HOOPS!!! 
