Forget Ferhat: Ange could unearth the next Sterling with Celtic's "star in the making" - opinion

While Ange Postecoglou has transformed the Celtic side with a number of foreign imports this season, the Bhoys still boast a healthy core of homegrown talents within their first-team squad.

Indeed, all of Callum McGregor, Stephen Welsh, Greg Taylor, Anthony Ralston, James Forrest, Mikey Johnston and Karamoko Dembele are first-team products of an extremely efficient production line at Lennoxtown, while the likes of Ben Doak, Dane Murray and Rocco Vata look as if they are not far off making a splash within the senior squad.

However, while the first two of this teenage trio have already made an appearance under the management of Postecoglou this season, the 16-year-old Vata remains a player the Parkhead crowd are yet to see in the flesh – although there is already a considerable level of excitement surrounding the attacking midfielder’s potential amongst the Celtic support.

It is not difficult to see why Celtic fans are so eager to witness what Vata can do at senior level, as, despite his tender age, the Republic of Ireland U17 international has been lighting it up in the Scottish Lowland League with the Bhoys B team side.

Indeed, so far this season, the midfielder has already bagged six goals for the Celtic Colts team, the vast majority of which have been spectacular finishes.

One such goal came during December’s 1-0 victory over East Stirlingshire, when Vata latched onto a defence-splitting through ball before crashing the ball off the crossbar and past the opposition goalkeeper from an extremely tight angle, sealing all three points for his side in the process.

Rocco Vata’s goal last night pic.twitter.com/9cG2LloyCB

— AnnFrances Murray (@AnnFrancesMurr3) December 11, 2021

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