Opinion: Attacking duo face an uncertain future at Celtic Park

Looking at the Celtic B team which faced Rangers B in the Glasgow Cup semi-final on Tuesday, two of the Hoops attackers in that game were Mikey Johnston and Karamoko Dembele.

Johnston scored Celtic’s opening goal in the game – which the Hoops lost on penalties after a 2-2 draw, whilst Dembele set up the Bhoys’ second goal.

Perhaps it is not surprising that both players were involved in Celtic’s goals, as they are players who have had first-team experience for the Hoops, with Johnston featuring for the first-team more often than Dembele has.

What does it say for the duo’s long-term future at the club though if they are both playing for the B team?

Dealing with Dembele first, it could be that his time at the club is coming to an end. The 19-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season, and you have to think that if the player was going to stay at the club he would have signed a new deal by new.

He is too good a player not to feature for the B team though, so it is understandable that he featured for the Hoops in the Glasgow Cup tie.

As for Mikey Johnston, he has featured more often in the first-team squad then Dembele has, which makes sense as he is a much more experienced player.

He has been on the bench for Celtic in recent weeks, including the Scottish Cup semi-final against Rangers. Johnston has been limited to 20 appearances for the club this season, and that indicates that he is not first-choice under Ange Postecoglou.

Maybe it would be better for Johnston if he was to leave Celtic at the end of the season, either on loan or permanently, as he seems unlikely to hold down a regular first-team spot at Celtic in the short-term at least.

Will either player feature for the Celtic first-team in the last five league