Johnny Kenny is hoping to down the Bit O’Red when he returns to Sligo tonight wearing green and white.
The 19-year-old striker was a prolific scorer for Sligo Rovers at underage level before making an impressive step up to their first-team.
And that prompted Celtic to swoop for the teenager a year ago, with Kenny signing a five-year deal at the SPL champions.
But he is back in the League of Ireland this season as a loan star for champions Shamrock Rovers.
And Sligo Rovers boss John Russell knows exactly the threat the ‘outstanding talent’ poses against his old club at the Showgrounds (7.45pm)
Russell told Mirror Sport: “I worked with Johnny in his year with Sligo before he moved to Celtic.
“He came through the academy and I've known him since he was 10 or 11, when I was development officer for Sligo / Leitrim.
“I’ve followed his career and he's a great kid and it's good to see him back in the league. Hopefully he has a good season but I don't want him to do well against us.
“He has done well in pre-season and he's an outstanding talent.
“He scores for fun and did that for us at underage level, and again before his move. He'll be hoping to do that again, but I'm hoping it's not against us.”
The other talking point tonight is how Sligo Rovers can find goals of their own after Aidan Keena’s departure.
Top scorer in the Premier Division last year with 18, the striker was recently snapped up by Cheltenham Town, with the League One side paying a club record fee.
Russell responded by signing current Faroe Islands international Stefan Radosavljevic to boost attacking ranks.
“Aidan was a super player for us and, for me, probably the best player in the league last season so he's going to be a difficult one to replace,” added Russell.
“I was actually hopeful towards the end of the window that we might keep him until July at least, but it wasn't to be.
“We had to recruit abroad because I don't think you could look in the league when everyone has done their business and get someone to replace a player like Aidan.
“Everyone inside and outside of the league was after him and there was nothing in the country that was going to replace him.”
Keena was on Shamrock Rovers radar at one point but Russell said: “You don't want to sell to a rival when you're trying to compete with other teams in the league.”
The Hoops lost to Derry in last week’s President’s Cup but rested up to seven players with tonight’s clash in mind and Rory Gaffney and Gary O’Neill are back available.
Hoops boss Stephen Bradley said: “I think Sligo are much more difficult opposition than what we faced last year.
“They have some really dangerous attacking players and we'll see that tonight.
“It's always a tough place to play. I'm sure there will be a big crowd and we've sold out our end, so it has all the makings of a good game.”
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