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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Aidan Macdonald

Celtic youngster Evan Easton joins Sheffield United

Celtic youth prospect Evan Easton has signed for English Premier League side Sheffield United.

The Hoops defender, who joined the club in 2020, never made a first-team appearance for the Scottish champions.

He has represented Scotland at several youth levels and can play as a defensive midfielder as well as at centre-back.

The 18-year-old featured once for the Celtic B team last season, playing 17 minutes in the UEFA Youth League against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Meanwhile, Parkhead hero Peter Grant has urged midfielder Matt O'Riley to sign a new deal at Parkhead.

The Dane has made a positive start to the season under Brendan Rodgers, netting two goals and providing two assists in his first five games.

And Grant, who coached the 22-year-old at Fulham, feels he should stay at the Hoops for the immediate future.

He told Football Scotland: "It’s always massive to keep your best players and the way to do it is by bringing good players in to play alongside them.

"The attention and scrutiny you play under at Celtic is, apart from Manchester United, second to none and I keep telling him the adulation you get is very difficult to replicate.

"We know financially, other clubs can pay more down in England or elsewhere. We understand all of these things.

"People always want your best players, so to keep them, get good ones alongside them and be successful.

"They may well still want to go and that’s fine. Matt is thoroughly enjoying his time at Celtic and that is when you play your best.

"There are so many benefits. He can still get picked for the national team, you can play in the Champions League.

"Matt has become one of the fans’ favourites players and his performances are worthy of that.

"He’s become a better all-round player. All of these things. Time may come when someone from the Premier League in England makes an offer and he thinks one day he might fancy a go at that, you never know.

“I always say enjoy them while you have them. Make them feel like a king of the castle and, if you do that and reward them for their quality and efforts as best you can afford, that’s important.

"God willing, Matt signs a new deal and he’s at Celtic for many years to come.”

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