A SUCCESSFUL season in the Scottish Lowland Football League, finishing third despite regularly fielding a very young side, leads us to consider which Celtic B players are ready for the next step in their careers and if anyone might step up to the first team.

Improved squad building under the current club leadership and the lack of any European qualifiers may lead to fewer impromptu opportunities but the early July training camp in Austria and friendlies against Banik Ostrava in the Czech Republic and then matches against Blackburn Rovers and Norwich City at Parkhead could lead to a few players making a breakthrough.

Here, we look at three of them in more detail...

Bosun Lawal

Age: 19. Position: Centre-back

Lawal joined Celtic from Watford’s academy a year ago and, after a successful season with the B team, appears ready for the next step in his development.

He’s been a regular starter in the Lowland League, only missing matches due to an injury sustained on international duty last November, and could make a breakthrough this summer as a result of the need for cover in his position at first-team level.

Born in May 2003, the 19-year-old was initially viewed as a prospect for both defensive midfield and central defence but it now seems clear that his future is at the back.

He’s physically imposing and has dominated in most individual battles for Celtic B, his broad upper body generally allowing him to outmuscle opposition forwards.

Lawal also defends well against long balls as he possesses good anticipation to go along with his size. With the permanent recruitment of Cameron Carter-Vickers still to be secured, an injury scare for Carl Starfelt, the departure of Nir Bitton and uncertainty regarding the future of Christopher Jullien, these upcoming pre-season friendlies present an opportunity to test Lawal’s defending against opponents of a higher level. 

Celtic Way:

With the caveat that Celtic B’s central defenders are rarely pressed intensely, he has displayed ability on the ball which makes him a fit for Ange Postecoglou’s style of play.

As pictured above, that aspect of his game has also been evident during his performances for his country as captain of the Republic of Ireland under-19s. Lawal is calm and composed in possession but doesn’t just opt for the easy choice. He has the vision and technique to thread a ball through the opposition midfield and turn defence into attack with one pass and, in addition to well-executed line-breaking passes, also possesses a precise long diagonal.

Unsurprisingly, given Lawal’s past as a defensive midfielder, he’s also demonstrated an aptitude for bringing the ball forward himself. Although he does not have great acceleration his powerful frame helps him to build up momentum quickly and makes it difficult for opponents to prevent his driving runs. 

Dane Murray, Lawal’s usual partner in central defence for Celtic B, is currently unavailable due to injury and as a result it is the Irishman who’ll benefit from any opportunity to step up to the first team this summer.

If his physical attributes and ball-playing ability translate to the level required then that could lead him into a role as the fourth-choice senior centre-back for the 2022-23 season. 

Tobi Oluwayemi

Age: 19. Position: Goalkeeper

Also born in May 2003 and recruited from a London academy is goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi. The former Tottenham Hotspur youth, capped at under-19 level by England, is highly regarded by Celtic and could benefit from a pre-season spent being mentored closely by Joe Hart. 

Oluwayemi played in half of Celtic B’s Lowland League fixtures, alternating with the now-released Ryan Mullen, and may stay at that level as the regular starter if the team continues for another season.

Another factor in terms of his pathway is the UEFA Youth League, an under-19s competition which mirrors the Champions League group stages and will therefore feature Celtic.

Although its general eligibility criteria in the 2022-23 season is for players born on or after January 1 2004, clubs are permitted to include five players on their 40-strong squad list born in 2003 as long as they’ve been on their books for at least two years. Oluwayemi, unlike Lawal, could make the cut on that basis and be Celtic’s keeper in this premier youth tournament. 

Most likely then is another campaign with the B team before a contract extension in the summer of 2023, a loan for the 2023-24 season and an assessment two years from now - when he’ll still only be 21 years old - as to whether or not he can replace Hart.

However, with Vasilis Barkas close to ending his time in Glasgow and Scott Bain seemingly content to be a bench-warmer, it is not inconceivable that Oluwayemi could make a senior debut in the season ahead. 

Celtic Way:

Although he rarely makes those 50-yard passes to feet fans might envisage when thinking about a truly elite modern goalkeeper, he does exude calmness on the ball and can pass well to short and medium-range options.

His stint in the B team has prepared him for being involved in the build-up stage of possession and also for the type of chances Postecoglou’s side might face.

Oluwayemi is a good shot-stopper, with instinctive reflexes and strong hands. The key playing challenge he may face at a higher level is commanding his box and dealing with aerial challenges.

Tsoanelo Letsosa

Age: 18. Position: Attacking midfielder

A wildcard for a summer breakthrough is South Africa born Scottish youth cap Tsoanelo Letsosa.

He wasn’t a regular starter for Celtic B this season but may have the highest potential ability of any of the team and could catch Postecoglou’s eye if he is part of the squad for the trip to Austria. 

Celtic Way:

Letsosa usually plays as the right-sided central attacking midfielder in a 4-3-3 and there is a hole in the senior squad in that area with Tom Rogic no longer at the club.

Given the likely outlay elsewhere on Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and a left-back plus the relatively strong existing complement of Reo Hatate, David Turnbull and Matt O’Riley for the 8 or 10 spots it is possible that some standout pre-season performances by Letsosa could lead to a senior spot as the fourth choice for at least the first half of the 2022-23 campaign. 

Having just turned 18, the starlet is brilliant at finding pockets of space before turning opponents with his electric change of pace and two-footed technique.

His movement is excellent; he is happy to drop deep to receive the ball, join the front three and overload the opposition backline or float wide and combine with the winger and full-back. 

He is also a goalscoring threat with strong and accurate, technically-accomplished strikes from the edge of the box or even further out all part of his repertoire.

The question mark for Letsosa will be in relation to his small stature. He has shown reasonable robustness and has surprising aerial ability, with a vertical leap reminiscent of Henrik Larsson, but top-level Scottish football would be a stress test like no other. 

However, if there is a Celtic manager likely to see the upside in his ability it is Postecoglou and, when polled, 60 per cent of Celtic fans said they would accept possibly not winning a treble - by playing the likes of Letsosa, Lawal and Oluwayemi throughout the League Cup and in the early rounds of the Scottish Cup - in exchange for the potential medium to long-term benefits this could bring the club.