Liam Buckley believes new Celtic signing Johnny Kenny has chosen the right club to sign for in order to realise his outstanding potential.
18-year-old Kenny joined the Bhoys last month from Buckley’s Sligo Rovers for an undisclosed fee, but with significant add-ons, after turning down an offer from Hibernian.
The Ireland under-19 striker signed a five-year deal with the Scottish Premiership leaders, the length of contract a measure of the confidence Celtic have in the player.
2021 was a breakthrough season for the Riverstown man as he made 31 appearances and was often selected ahead of seasoned internationals Romeo Parkes and Ryan De Vries.
Kenny finished as the league’s fifth-highest scorer with 12 goals, as well as scoring against FH in Europa Conference League qualifying.
He signed a new three-year deal with the club at the end of the season but the Bhoys triggered a release clause in his contract, believed to be worth around 150,000 euro.
And Buckley believes a club of Celtic’s stature and the pressure of playing at a club whose fans demand good football and success will bring out the best in the teenager.
The Dubliner, who himself played overseas with KSV Waregem and Racing Santander during a decorated career, feels the youngster's work ethic means he'll fit right in at the 'best team in Scotland.'
“I do think he'll get better with Celtic - he'll be a better player in a better team. I do see Celtic getting the best out of him.
“Glasgow Celtic are Glasgow Celtic - they're the best team in Scotland and have been over the past decade bar last year.
“They've got good management there and they've turned a corner. They're winning games, they play a nice brand of football.
“The expectation is that they make group stages in European competitions so there's a great opportunity for Johnny Kenny there.
“It’s a great platform, playing in front of 50,000 every week, it's brilliant. In fairness to Johnny, he's in love with his business here.
“Johnny had been training with us for a full year before he got in last year so it was a good introduction for him to where he was at.
“He'd be the last player to leave training and the first in. He wants to have a go at it. He's a fit boy, a strong boy.
“He's determined and he has qualities that I'm sure Celtic will recognise like I did. And if they can play to his qualities, he'll get a good career out of it.”
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Kenny, the son of Sligo legend John, is the second signing Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou has made from the League of Ireland this season.
Defender Liam Scales made the move from Shamrock Rovers over the summer as he helped the Hoops to back-to-back Premier Division titles.
Kenny’s former Sligo teammate John Mahon has joined him in the Premiership after signing with double-winners St Johnstone in January, making his debut last week.
Drimnagh’s Daniel Cleary left Dundalk to sign with St Johnstone a couple of weeks earlier, while Ireland under-21 midfielder Ross Tierney joined Motherwell from Bohemians.
Buckley, who was disappointed to lose two first-team players in the middle of pre-season, has also backed centre-half Mahon to succeed in Perth.
He added: “The expectation at Glasgow Celtic and St Johnstone is quite high. St Johnstone won a couple of cups last year.
“They're at the bottom end of the table and they've brought in a couple of players to get themselves up the table and John was one of them.
“So hopefully they get out of the relegation trouble they're in.”