Rocco Vata tipped for Celtic first team explosion as Callum McGregor reveals masterplan to breed next generation

Callum McGregor believes youth sensation Rocco Vata could have what it takes to become a Celtic star.

The 17-year-old son of ex-Hoops star Rudi Vata had been training with the first team for most of the season so far before suffering an ankle injury last month and he made his senior debut against Hibernian at Easter Road in late December. Just two days after that appearance in Edinburgh, Vata played a starring role as Celtic’s B team defeated Rangers 5-2 in a Scottish Lowland League clash in front of a couple of thousand spectators at Celtic Park, netting a goal in the process.

The youngster then found the net twice against Wolves’ youth team in a Premier League International Cup clash on January 18, before going off injured after 29 minutes. Vata remains on the sidelines with the ankle injury, but McGregor is backing the teenager to recover from it and continue to push his way into Ange Postecoglou’s first team plans.

The Celtic skipper said: “He’s hurt his ankle at the minute but he’s showing really good promise in the academy. He’s scored a few goals for the B team, which is great. That’s what we want, to be pushing as many academy products on as we can, trying to expose them to the first team as much as we can as well and getting them to that level where they can step into the team.

“Rocco has been around the first team since pre-season and he’s done great so hopefully he can recover from his injury. It’s great to see the guys coming, pushing and training with the first team. If we can try and get as many academy products through into the first team, I believe it gives the club a great base moving forward.”

McGregor himself is one of the best players in recent years to come through Celtic’s youth academy and knows