Celtic’s B team returned to the Scottish mainstream in 2021/22 through entry into the Lowland League, giving the club’s brightest talents exposure to competitive men’s football. That process has since expanded, with cooperation loans and testing fixtures against senior opposition in the KDM Evolution Trophy — designed to push young players closer to the standards required at the top level.
The early signs this season have been promising. Celtic opened their campaign with two wins from two: a 3-1 victory over Clyde, where Callum Osmand, Sean McArdle, and Samuel Isiguzo found the net after an early red card for Tommy Robson, followed by a hard-fought 1-0 win against Kelty Hearts sealed by Finlay Hale, with Aidan Rice keeping a clean sheet against League One opposition.
The Hot Prospects
Callum Osmand
Celtic secured the highly rated Welsh striker on a four-year deal in the summer. The 19-year-old joined from Fulham, where he came through the academy from the age of 12. A prolific 2024/25 campaign with the U21s — 18 goals and a Premier League 2 Player of the Season nomination — highlighted his pedigree.
Osmand brings explosive pace and clever movement, with his ability to shift gears unsettling defenders. Against Clyde, he forced the sending-off and later opened the scoring with a sharp run in behind, underlining both his power and poise in front of goal.
Sean McArdle
Eighteen-year-old Scot McArdle signed his first professional deal in 2023 and has quickly risen through the ranks. The left-footed midfielder featured 25 times in last season’s Lowland League, scoring five goals, while also playing in six UEFA Youth League matches.
A product of futsal, McArdle excels in tight spaces and shows composure beyond his years. He has already dipped his toe into senior football, providing an assist for Luis Palma in a friendly against Sligo Rovers before making his competitive debut against Hibernian.
Francis Turley
Since joining in 2022, Belfast-born Turley has emerged as one of Celtic’s most exciting young playmakers. Left-footed, technically sharp, and composed, he has been central to the B team, making 35 appearances and contributing two goals. On the European stage, he has impressed with three goals and an assist in seven UEFA Youth League outings.
Turley’s progress was rewarded with a first-team debut against St Mirren in August 2024. Reflecting on the challenge ahead, he admitted: “The challenge is breaking into the first team, it’s not easy with a winning team that is performing but you have to keep working hard and be patient. Having belief in your own ability is important.”
The First-Team Question
For all the talent emerging at Lennoxtown, Celtic’s challenge remains turning youth promise into senior impact. In recent years, Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly have headed south to the English Championship with Watford and Millwall, while prolific B team forward Daniel Cummings joined West Ham this summer. It is now nearly a decade since Kieran Tierney forced his way from the academy into the first team and became a mainstay.
The question lingers: can Osmand, McArdle, Turley, or others from this generation bridge the gap to the first team squad? Alloa have not had the best of starts in the competition – and the pressure to advance will make this the most competitive tie the young Celtic squad have faced yet. For the Wasps it’s a tricky and dangerous opponent.
