Daniel Kelly gets it straight on life after being a big Celtic deal as absent prodigy told he is already home

Aidan Nesbitt went from next big thing at Celtic to lost Bhoy and has a cautionary tale that the grass isn’t always greener somewhere else.

The Falkirk midfielder has watched Rocco Vata turn up his nose at a new deal with the Hoops before leaving for Watford. And this week boss Brendan Rodgers binned Daniel Kelly from his pre-season plans after the youngster rejected a new contract. After insisting the lure of life-changing money from English and European clubs is a head turner for any teenager, former Parkhead prodigy Nesbitt insists 18-year-old Kelly is at a huge career crossroad which can cut both ways.

He said: “Key decisions which are taken on the future of young players can definitely become crossroads and gambles which can have huge impacts on careers. I’m at the stage where I realise the potential I had as a young Celtic player and where I am now. I am happy where I am as a 27-year-old and feeling a part of something again. That was something I lost a bit when I left Celtic. There are so many factors which can make trying to reach your potential all the more difficult.

“Young players who opt to leave can find themselves in a completely new environment and things may not click for them as it had at Celtic. It might be the wrong club at the wrong time, the club may not be in the best place or it may be the wrong move for the individual. There will be numerous hurdles and challenges which will arise. Daniel Kelly is the player being talked about at Celtic and nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. But if there is a lot of potential there, then I’m sure Brendan Rodgers is the type of manager who could make him excel and progress.”

Nesbitt’s post-Celtic career has seen service at the likes of Morton, MK Dons