Irish starlet Gavin Whyte given Celtic trial

CELTIC are reported to have handed a trial to Northern Ireland’s young player of the year Gavin Whyte.

Celtic have stole a march on their rivals by inviting the young winger to train at Lennoxtown this month. Picture: John Devlin

Whyte, who plays for Crusaders, is reported to be attracting interest from several teams in the English Premier League, however Celtic have stole a march on their rivals by inviting the young winger to train at Lennoxtown this month.

Celtic head of under-21 recruitment, Willie McStay has made regular trips to Belfast in a bid to keep tabs on the youngster. A Crusaders insider told the Daily Express: “A number of clubs have been looking at Gavin because he is one of the most exciting young players in Ireland.

“A lot of clubs in the English top flight are interested as well as Celtic.”

He then added that Crusaders manager, Stephen Baxter, had already “knocked back several trial offers” because he wanted Whyte to “focus on the domestic campaign”.

It is understood that Baxter has since allowed Whyte to travel to Celtic and has also sanctioned a possible second trial at Everton. However, he has also made it clear that if anyone is interested they will have to be prepared to make a serious offer to buy the youngster.