Sounds a bit Irish?

On 30th January 1982, a 17-year-old Paul McStay scored on his debut for Celtic in a league victory over Aberdeen, laying immediate claim to a central midfield position that would be his own for 15 years.

Moral of the story: if you're good enough, you're old enough.

24th May 1995 – an 18-year-old Patrick Kluivert scores the winning goal for Ajax against AC Milan in the Champions League final.

Moral of the story: if you're good enough, you're old enough.

30 June 1998 – Michael Owen, aged 18, scores the World Cup goal of the tournament for England against Argentina.

Moral of the story: if you're good enough, you're old enough.

15th March 2009 – 22-year-old Darren O'Dea scores against Rangers in the CIS Cup Final, two and a half years after his Celtic debut, having faced AC Milan in the Champions League and been included in Giovanni Trapattonni's Irish national squads.

Moral of the story: the boy needs more time?

Facing the most crucial match of the season on Saturday, Celtic must choose two reliable central defenders, capable of holding their nerve under immense pressure and, most likely, extreme provocation.

O'Dea, who has acquitted himself well at left-back but was nevertheless born to play in the centre, somehow finds himself fourth-choice. Yet, he has never baulked at a challenge and, of all the defenders at the club, he has the greatest potential.

Given the near certainty that Stephen McManus's injuries will rule him out for the game, O'Dea should be considered a must-have in the team. But still, he is cosseted as McManus, Gary Caldwell and Glen Loovens have all been preferred to the Irishman, who has rarely put a foot wrong in a Celtic jersey. Isn't it time to trust him for the biggest challenge of all?

On the form he has shown this season, nobody could reasonably argue against the inclusion of Gary Caldwell. However, though there are similarities between the two players (apart from their haircuts), it is O'Dea who is the more naturally talented and whose use of the ball is better. And you cannot have too many defenders who can win the ball in the air as well as being comfortable on the ground.

It remains to be seen whether Caldwell will play in defence or be pushed into a midfield role to nullify the Rangers central midfield, which is after all approximately 50% of the R-word's entire threat.

But it seems inconceivable that a talent such as O'Dea could again be confined to the bench when all that stands between him and a flourishing career is opportunity.

It would be as wrong to use Saturday's match to placate a player who may soon look elsewhere to further his career as it would be unforgivable to lose an exceptional talent through near-obsessive over-protection.

But, despite the misconceptions of the ignorant, decisions that sound a bit Irish are most often eminently sensible. Just ask Michael, Patrick and Paul.





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