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Martin O’Neill believes Celtic are proving they are the perfect club to aid the development of Chelsea loanee Shumaira Mheuka.
Teen sensation Mheuka, 18, has caught the eye when making five substitute appearances for the Scottish Premiership giants this season.
The young striker found the back of the net in the 2-1 win at St. Mirren in September – only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Mheuka – who joined Chelsea as a 13-year-old – also scored twice for England Under-20s during the recent international break.
And O’Neill believes there is more to come from Mheuka, who signed a new five-year deal with Chelsea last month before joining Celtic on a temporary basis.
In quotes carried by The Herald, O’Neill said ahead of Sunday’s trip to Motherwell: “I think he’s made a really decent impact in the short spells he’s been on.
“And this lad wants to play, which is encouraging as well. And he’s done well when he’s away [with England]. So I think this experience is doing the world of good for him.
“But I just want it to be a great experience for us as well. And I think it can be. I think he can do something.”
And when asked if Mheuka is someone Celtic can depend on, O’Neill added: “I think you can. And he will improve, no doubt at all.
“There’s little things he can [improve on]. If he shifts the ball, occasionally going left rather than right. All silly things I’m talking about.
“But overall, yeah, I think he’s definitely got a career. And obviously Chelsea do as well, because they’ve renewed his contract.”
O’Neill was linked with Celtic exit following loss of form
Celtic are looking to return to winning ways against Motherwell, having lost three games in a row – including two against Rangers – before the international break.
There had been speculation over the future of O’Neill following that poor run of form, but the 74-year-old has since said he was never close to stepping down.
O’Neill was named Celtic boss on a permanent basis in the summer after two interim spells last season culminated in a league and Scottish Cup double.
Meanwhile, Chelsea ended a three-game winless run of their own when thrashing Bournemouth 5-1 in the Premier League on Saturday, with Jordan Henderson scoring a brace.
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