Colby Donovan receives high praise from Brendan Rodgers

The young defender began the game at right-back but was substituted at half time; however, he later returned to the pitch to fill in at centre-back after Stephen Welsh was subbed off due to his shoulder injury with 20 to play.

It was Donovan who sealed the victory with a composed headed finish, latching onto Mitchell Robertson’s knockdown across the face of goal.

Speaking to Celtic TV post-match Rodgers singled out Donovan’s qualities. He said: “He’s a boy who’s very competitive, and I like him. I can see the development from last year when he played. He’s very aggressive, he passes forward. He’ll become a bit less rash as his career moves forward.”

“I like his personality and I like his dominance, and he can play football, which you have to be able to when you play for Celtic, and [it was]nice for him to get that winning goal.”

Donovan is still awaiting his first competitive appearance for Celtic, having featured 30 times for the B team last season in both the Lowland League and UEFA Youth League.

Donovan and the Celtic squad return to action this Saturday as they face Estrela Da Amadora in a behind closed doors match. It will be the first of two pre-season games in the Algarve for Rodgers’ side.

The Hoops will then face Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon next Wednesday in their toughest test yet before flying back to Glasgow to prepare for Newcastle United at Celtic Park.

A trip to Como in Italy awaits the Celts at the end of July. Celtic will face Ajax and Como or Al Ahli in the first ever series of the Como Cup.

Conor Spence

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