Following the arrivals of Kyogo Furuhashi, Liel Abada, Jota, Giorgos Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda this season, Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic side is one that quite clearly boasts a tremendous amount of attacking talent.
Indeed, so far this season, Kyogo has scored 16 goals and registered five assists over his 26 appearances for the Bhoys, Abada has bagged 14 goals and provided 11 assists over his 38 outings for the Hoops and Jota has netted eight goals and registered seven assists over his 24 appearances for the club.
However, despite this clear strength in depth in his attacking lineup, Postecoglou has often found himself short of options up top due to a high volume of injuries – something which ultimately led to the 56-year-old handing 18-year-old Joey Dawson his Celtic debut in a 3-1 win over St Johnstone back in December.
Although, while it may have been luck that saw the centre-forward handed first-team minutes so soon into his professional career, it would hardly be surprising if Dawson becomes a regular in the 56-year-old manager’s first-team squad in the not too distant future, as the teenager appears to be one of the most exciting prospects at Parkhead.
The next John Hartson
Having joined Celtic on a three-year deal from Scunthorpe United last summer, the 18-year-old has quickly settled into life in Glasgow, linking up with Tommy McIntyre’s B team side – for whom Dawson has already bagged nine league goals this season.
As such, it is clear to see why Celtic describe Dawson as a “highly-rated” talent, while Paul Hurst, the youngster’s former manager at Scunthorpe, also appeared extremely excited at the potential of the 18-year-old, saying: “I think he’s a player with a lot of potential. [He] showed good ability during pre-season in various games at different levels.”
And, considering the striker’s uncle, Michael Dawson, went on to play 286 Premier League games in his professional career, while his father, Andy Dawson, played over 300 games for teams such as Hull City and Scunthorpe in his own career, the youngster’s footballing ability quite clearly runs in the family.
Furthermore, should the physically imposing teenager who Michael Dawson described as a “big centre-forward” go on secure a place in Postecoglou’s first team in the coming years, he could very well be a talent who goes on to replicate the goalscoring record of another big Bhoys striker, John Hartson – who bagged 50 times and registered 15 assists over his 105 appearances for Celtic.
Either way, it is clear that the Hoops have an extremely exciting talent on their hands in the shape of Dawson, with it appearing a very wise move for Postecoglou to place his trust in the 18-year-old on a more regular basis – as he could be rewarded with the emergence of a new club legend.
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