Albian Ajeti was handed a clean slate, and the captain’s armband, as Ange Postecoglou got life as Celtic boss off to a winning start.
The Swiss striker and keeper Vasilis Barkas started in Newport and Postecoglou insists they will be given the chance to reset their Hoops careers after debut campaigns to forget.
The Aussie declared himself happy with the 3-1 win over Wednesday – courtesy of goals from Ajeti, Owen Moffat and Odsonne Edouard – as new signing Liam Shaw shone alongside a number of youngsters.
That’s despite falling behind in the third minute when former Rangers star Josh Windass fired the Owls ahead. Postecoglou said: “Everyone starts with a clean slate. Everyone’s got an opportunity to show what they can do.
“Everyone will be disappointed with last year. The whole playing group and all the staff come back determined to make amends for what happened.
“The important thing is how you react this year, how you’re training and what your attitude is like. I’ve got no complaints about any of the players.
“It was a difficult year for everyone. When you’re coming into a new club you want them to get settled as quickly as they can off the field. I’m sure Barky and a few of the boys struggled a little bit but that’s in the past now. Now it’s an opportunity for all of them to embrace what we’re doing.
“If they want to be part of what’s happening they just have to show me with their performances in training and matches.”
Postecoglou spent the 90 minutes willing his side on to keep the ball moving.
And as the game wore on there were more than a few signs his demands for energy and intensity are getting through to his players – even if this was a shadow squad.
If Ajeti was a surprise starter seeing the frontman emerge with the armband was a complete bolt from the blue.
But the 24-year-old, dubbed an empty jersey by the critics last season, looked up for the fight in a friendly that wasn’t short in tasty tackles and chipped in with a neat finish to level the scores.
And if Postecoglou can get a tune out of Ajeti he might just save himself at least one priority in the transfer market.
Likewise, Shaw looked a shrewd addition in his first 60 minutes. The 20-year-old lined up in an advanced midfield position beside Kerr McInroy in what began as a 4-1-4-1, driving his side forward when on the ball while also showing a combative streak.
Postecoglou said: “He was good. Liam was one of the ones who grew into the game.
“He’s got real presence about him. He’s a big lad. He’s only beginning his steps in the professional world.
“But I’m not even thinking about starters or non-starters. We’ve just got the bulk of the squad back for this camp.
We’ve had literally two sessions with them. We’ve got a lot of work to do. The key thing is we try to get everyone in great condition for the first game. In terms of who starts, there’s plenty of time to think about that.”
It was the worst possible start for the Aussie when Windass latched on to Scotland full-back Liam Palmer’s brilliant low ball and buried low past Barkas with a first-time finish from 12 yards.
Shaw’s first foray into the Wednesday box should have resulted in a penalty after he latched on to a neat crossfield pass from Ewan Henderson only to be sent tumbling to the ground by Windass.
Shaw drove forward from halfway and released Moffat, with the young midfielder blasting into the side-netting.
Within 45 seconds of the restart Ajeti had levelled. Shaw won the ball inside the Owls half and fed Henderson, whose incisive pass found the Swiss on the left of the box. He drove low past Joe Wildsmith, beating the keeper inside his near post.
Moffat had been the pick of the young Celts and his efforts were rewarded with a fantastic goal after 56 minutes. The 19-year-old allowed the ball to roll across him 20 yards out before a spin and first-time shot into the far bottom corner. His somersault celebration was every bit as good.
Edouard came on for the final half hour as Postecoglou made wholesale changes with Leo Hjelde and Luca Connell also among the replacements.
It was a stroll in the sun for the Frenchman who showed his class to roll home a clinching third goal past sub Wednesday keeper Cameron Dawson from an angle.
Postecoglou said: “The result’s not that important. Today they were trying to do the things we have implemented.
“But it’s still very early. As long as the intent is there I’m happy.”
