The simple desire for first team football was the motivation for Adam Brooks making the unconventional move from Celtic to Inverness Caley Thistle.
At the age of 19 a third season playing in the Lowland League isn’t going to advance the young striker’s career.
Billy Dodds can offer a genuine prospect of first team football as he looks to build on last season’s near miss for the Play Off’s while his side prepared for the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden.
Three years ago Robbie Deas made the same move, recently he returned to the top flight by signing for Kilmarnock with his career in the ascent.
Finding a way out of the Celtic Academy into the first team picture is becoming increasingly difficult with Mikey Johnston, Stephen Welsh and Tony Ralston having varying levels of success while clearly outside the First XI.
Addressing that issue on Saturday, Brooks told the Inverness Courier why he had opted to move north:
Obviously speaking to Billy and saying this could be a pathway for a first team opportunity, to just get away and play football and hopefully take my career to the next level.
I see this as a challenge, having a challenge like this is good for me and I can’t wait to hopefully go on and excel. It was clear to see when I spoke to Billy the ambition this year is to get up.
After watching the game today I have the belief that we can go up. Hopefully I will be part of that.
I enjoyed last year with Celtic B, I picked up some confidence and felt that it was the time to go and push on to another level and see if I could kick on from there.
Celtic B will again be playing in the Lowland League in the season ahead but if Ben Summers and Rocco Vata are to complete the transition they will need to get out on loan at a decent level and put in outstanding performances to convince Brendan Rodgers that they are ready for first team football.
