Daniel Cummings nets Youth League stunner as in-demand Celtic teen's red hot form continues against Dinamo Zagreb
Celtic youngster Daniel Cummings made it six goals in six UEFA Youth League games with a terrific strike against Dinamo Zagreb.
The 18-year-old, who is out of contract at the Parkhead club in the summer and has reportedly yet to be offered a new deal, continued his red hot form with a superb curling effort against Dinamo Zagreb - taking him to 23 goals in 21 games this season, as rumours continue to circle about his future. If no new deal with Brendan Rodgers' side is agreed before January 1, Cummings will be free to speak to other clubs - with a host of English Premier League said to be vying for his signature.
He could be the latest talent from the conveyer belt at Lennoxtown to leave the club in recent seasons, following the departures of Rocco Vata to Watford and fellow teen Daniel Kelly to Millwall last summer. While Kelly joined EFL Championship side Millwall for an undisclosed fee, Celtic are known to have received around £237,000 in training compensation for Vata. The Premiership champions will also be entitled to a development fee if Cummings joins another club at the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.
READ MORE: Alexandro Bernabei Celtic transfer latest as Luke McCowan prediction made – Pakhead state of play
The 43 minute strike, that saw Cummings ghost in from the left before bending an effort from the edge of the area into the top corner ultimately counted for nothing, as the Young Celts were downed 2-1 by their Croatian hosts - after falling behind inside 30 seconds to Andjelo Sutalo's effort, which was added to just after the half hour by Leo Rimac.
Previously Hoops boss Rodgers dismissed suggestions that youth players aren't given a chance at Parkhead, saying: "I would like to think that I’ve been a coach, throughout my career, who’s always put in young players. If you trace my managerial career—and before that, my 15 years in youth development—I’ve given debuts to players as young as 16, 17, or 18. There's so much involved in giving a young player the opportunity to play.
Directly commetning on hotshot Cummings, he added: "In terms of Daniel’s output, his goals in his games, he’s done very well. But there are a lot of factors I consider when bringing in a young player. Ability is the first thing I look at, but your attitude and application are just as important.”
