Misfired Moves? Ex-Celtic Duo Struggle for EFL Game Time

Since departing Celtic for the English Championship in pursuit of first-team football, young talents Daniel Kelly and Rocco Vata have found minutes hard to come by.

Combined, the two players have played only 138 minutes this season, raising questions over whether the move has hindered or helped their development.

Nineteen-year-old Daniel Kelly, who joined Millwall, has made two brief league appearances totalling just 18 minutes and has managed 45 minutes in the cup. For a player seeking consistent playing time, it’s been a frustrating start, especially considering he might have played more had he stayed at Celtic.

However, Kelly’s departure opened the door for the Hoops to sign Luke McCowan, who has proven to be a fantastic addition for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Meanwhile, Rocco Vata has seen slightly more action, appearing in nine Games, with six in the league and three in the cup.

While his minutes have been more substantial, his move hasn’t yet resulted in a regular role. Had he stayed at Celtic, he might not have featured heavily either, possibly limited to cup fixtures like the tie against Hibs or the odd cameo appearance.

Yet, with Adam Idah sidelined through injury, Vata might have had a greater chance to step up in the coming weeks had he remained.

Both players left Celtic in hopes of more substantial roles, but the reality has been less than ideal so far. In the longer term, consistent playing time is crucial for their development, and only time will tell if their decisions to move south pay off or if more minutes in Glasgow would have served them better.