Matthew Anderson

Celtic talent Matthew Anderson believes he grew as a player and as a man after being thrown in at the deep end for a season on loan to Austria.

Now he’s waiting to see whether Brendan Rodgers decides to give him a chance with the Hoops this term. The left back is with Scotland Under 21s who face Turkey in a friendly tonight in Istanbul before playing in Austria on Friday. Anderson, 20, is highly-rated at Celtic and was sent to Admira Wacker at the start of the season, along with keeper Tobi Oluwayemi as the first players to go to the Austrian second-tier club after their link-up with the Scottish champions



Now he’s waiting to see whether Brendan Rodgers decides to give him a chance with the Hoops this term. The left back is with Scotland Under 21s who face Turkey in a friendly tonight in Istanbul before playing in Austria on Friday. Anderson, 20, is highly-rated at Celtic and was sent to Admira Wacker at the start of the season, along with keeper Tobi Oluwayemi as the first players to go to the Austrian second-tier club after their link-up with the Scottish champions

But Oluwayemi was injured early on and Anderson had to fend for himself in a foreign country and in a league he knew nothing about. He’s returned to Celtic though after playing in every game for the club and netted his first goal the other week too



New Celtic pathway manager Darren O’Dea stated last month: “I am delighted for Matty. Had a brilliant loan spell. To play week in and week out while adapting to a new country, the experience he has gained will be invaluable.” And Anderson admits he’s delighted with the experience. He said: “I’ve really enjoyed it.



Me and Tobi were the first ones to go over there for the partnership with Celtic and I think it went really well for my first full season in football. The standard was surprisingly impressive I thought.

"A lot of the players told me they had spent time playing in the Austrian Bundesliga and it wasn’t much of a drop-off. I thought it was a perfect level for me to go into for my first season in football



My target was to go over there and play as many games as I could. And I think I ended up playing in every game I was available for. So it almost went perfectly.


It was a big learning curve because Tobi did his meniscus at the start of the season so I was on my own. He had to go home for a few months.

“But I thought I coped with it much better than I was expecting. There was a winter break and that helped a lot because it split up the season.

“I learned how to cook maybe five dishes so I had them on repeat for the whole season and I had to do my own cleaning too! My girlfriend came over maybe more than once a month and my mum and dad and my brother came over a few times


With that and the Scotland camps and me being back and forth it felt I was there for maybe three weeks at a time maximum. As a football player, you learn so much in your first year of first team football, especially abroad

It’s almost a perfect fit because the standard of football was a really challenging level. But I was able to cope and hold my own.”

Anderson will spend pre-season with Celtic and will wait to see whether the club reckon he’s ready to push for a first team place or whether they will send him on loan again. And Anderson is happy to learn from fellow left backs - Celtic and Scotland ace Greg Taylor and Under 21s captain Josh Doig, who has missed this camp through injury.

He said: “The plan for me is to go back and report for pre-season with Celtic. Maybe the manager will have a look at me and let me know if he feels whether I should have another loan or no


I’m not looking too far ahead. I’ll just go with the flow. I have been with the Under 21s squads for a year now but with Josh Doig being here I have not played too many games


But the opportunity to learn from someone who has played in Serie A for a couple of years has been great for me. He’s a top player

I have been with Celtic for the past few pre-seasons and I trained with them when I came back from my winter break. Watching someone like Greg Taylor closely in training has been good for me. I try and pick up the habits that he has. He’s one of the players who are so consistent and works hard.”

 

Hopefully a loan in the Scottish Premiership next season..

 

Just checked Admiras squad form and he is one of the top players for goal threat with 1 goal and 6 assists.
I don't know how many times a player needs to go out on loan as that could hamper chances as new players will come in.
No idea how strong the 2nd league is in Austria but I would like to see him on the bench and may e get some minutes if we're comfortable.

 

Sounds like it was the perfect loan for him, this partnership with admira has real potential.

 

Think this guy is gonna get a real opportunity to nail down back up to Taylor..

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Dunno why he hasn't featured in pre season games and unsure if he's in the USA.

Would of thought it would have been more beneficial playing him ahead of Kobiyashi.

Unless he was just carrying a knock.

 

Think Frame has a better chance possibly of getting more game time, he’s back fit and was get minutes for the first team before his injury last season.

 

He's defo in USA.. Celtic media keep featuring him

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More potential for me deffo..

Anderson is a good wee player though with a decent left peg. Frame's younger but looks much mire dynamic....I have hopes for him..

 

I think it was because he was away with the Scotland u21s so got longer off before returning.

 

Getting a chance

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Decent first half.

 

He looks good

 

A lot quicker than I thought he’d be. Great half from him

 

First time I’ve seen a decent bit of him. Looked technically very clean.

 

Like the look of him, looked a bit like KT.

 

theres a boy I follow on Twitter that has always raved about him and said he reminds him of KT. I can’t say he’s been one I’ve heard an awful lot about while coming through but he looked very good last night. Got Scales out of jail once or twice getting round on the cover.

Believe he captained the B’s which is a good sign also.

 

He's always been rated and had a very good left peg. Surprised to hear how quick he looked though as it was one of the things I didn't think he was when I'd seen him..

Frame I thought looked much quicker and dynamic..

 

Totally agree, would be good to play a few of the promising guys from the academy in the league games this season, its about time that We started making the most out of what We have, Anderson definitely deserves a run in the first team to see what he can do.

 

Aye trebles are always special but I'd happily sacrifice the League Cup if it can give our youth some first team gametime alongside some regulars. No matter how far they progress I'd like us to stick with the young guys all through the tournament even if meant putting out half a team of youngsters in a cup final v the huns.