Alistair Johnston’s latest injury presents a big chance for Colby Donovan, he’s got to make the most of it…
With the news that Alistair Johnston will be sidelined for up to six weeks, it presents us with something of dilemma in the right back area.
Who starts at right back at Tannadice?
Colby Donovan, and Tony Ralston are available as back up to the Canadian International, but during pre-season Martin O’Neill seemed to taken a shine to the former in the absence of World Cup participating Canadian.
19 year old Colby clearly has a chance of making the grade at the club, and this is perhaps the perfect opportunity to show that he’s more than a squad filler.
Despite his age, he’s not a inexperienced youngster anymore, having made several first team appearances, and been involved in many match day squads and he also played for Martin O’Neill in the Europa League last season so can be relied on at this level.
Alistair Johnston has been ruled out for six weeks
It’s clear to see that the Irvine born full back has great potential, but he’s now at a stage of his career that he needs to show improvement and consistency, and with Alistair Johnston ruled out for the next six weeks, this is his big chance to prove his credentials.
At one stage Colby was very much seen as third choice, behind Johnston and Tony Ralston, but now seems to have risen above the Scotland World Cup Celt in the pecking order.
It will take a monumental effort to dislodge the highly experienced and talented Alistair Johnston, and no one will be expecting as such, but with the Canadian’s future not exactly assured due to ongoing transfer speculation.
This is Colby’s chance to shine
This is Colby’s chance to shine and prove to Martin O’Neill, and the supporters that he’s very much a player with a big future at the club.
It’s been a long time since we witnessed a academy prospect become a regular first team player, and now young Colby has that opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his senior teammates Callum McGregor, James Forrest, and Kieran Tierney.
That’s the challenge for young Colby, starting tomorrow up at Tannadice.
There’s uncertainty about Alistair Johnston’s future, with his move to Everton very much in doubt given his latest injury issue.
And if Colby Donovan is brought into the team as AJ’s stand-in what does that mean for Anthony Ralston, who will effectively drop to third pick right-back if Johnston’s transfer doesn’t proceed?
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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2 Comments
Think that the transfer speculation surrounding AJ, won’t be raised now, until January imo?
Be very surprised if anyone would be prepared to buy an injured player, for the fee we are looking for?
Unfortunately for AJ, he seems to becoming another injury prone player, within our defensive set up?
That would be my biggest concern, with a European campaign in mind, especially if it’s at CL levels?
In the ideal footballing world for ourselves, we would like our strongest available defensive set up, available for our biggest games.
Wouldn’t have any issues whatsoever, with the replacement options being involved more so, within the SPFL, in order to provide game management. Far easier to introduce them, while playing front foot football imo?
Won’t be the case for the CL qualification games.
But got plenty of confidence within young Donovan all the same?
Thought he was fabulous in the Milan pre season match, and already shown the he has the passion and right mentality to succeed at our club imo?
Jumping ahead of a seasoned Scottish international, already in the selection process, is some feat already accomplished by Donovan imo?
We can tend to get to attached to players within our support, especially as we can become so dependent and reliant upon them?
But with the demands of the footballing calendar, especially upon international players these days?
We have to start becoming more supportive towards our backup options available also imo?
Donovan has earned his chance, and hopefully takes the opportunity available, especially as there is such a requirement for our own potential talents, with 8 homegrown requirements within a 25man European squad?
We can tend to be to quick to dismiss this element of our squad building process, but it’s becoming more of a necessity with the footballing calendar, that’s in operation these days?
Expecting international players to be on top form in a 60 plus match season, for them, isn’t realistic now?
Especially with the demands within our club in place.
So these backup options, such as Donovan and ralston, are still valuable players within our overall squad, and deserve the full support, from our own supporters especially imo?
At 19, you know a young player will have ups and downs, but Donovan clearly has enough potential to be given a chance.
Hopefully AJ is ok, but for pace and a bit of invention going forward, Colby is the best natural fit in his absence.
If he plays enough and improves enough, then it’s a win win.