All-important game-time is back on the horizon for Celtic B, with a much-welcomed home fixture against East Stirlingshire this Friday. The 7.45pm kick-off will be played at the Penny Cars Stadium.

It has been several weeks since the young Hoops have played, but manager Tommy McIntyre says the squad are raring to get back on to the field.

“Any player will tell you it’s all about playing," he said. "They do all the hard work, and then training can be hard at times and they put a lot of energy into it, but the focus from them is to get that exposure on the pitch against opposition.”

The team's last fixture was on September 8, when they beat Gala Fairydean Rovers 2-0 at home. And Tommy McIntyre said that, since that match, his side have been training well.

“The players have been excellent - there’s a real focus on the training with the fact that we keep leading on to the next game,” he said.

“We’ve had some of the players also been involved in the first team, so it’s been great from that aspect. And they’ve done well and had good reports coming back from the first team.”

Looking ahead to Friday’s fixture, the manager said: "East Stirlingshire will want to do well against Celtic. It’ll be a showcase for them.

“For us it’ll also be a showcase, but we want to show that we do the right things - respecting the opposition first and foremost but at the same time it’s about how we play and how we develop in the game.”

And the Hoops boss says he hopes the fans can come along and watch Celtic’s future stars in action.

“We’ve always had a great tradition for developing young players,” he said. “Our stars of today, at one time, have been these young players coming up through the academy.

“Ultimately it’s about developing young players that can play in the first team and fans coming in can see the first Callum McGregor, the first Kieran Tierney, Mikey Johnston or James Forrest - because at one time they were in this position.”

Come and support the Bhoys in their Lowland League campaign as Celtic B face East Stirlingshire at the Penny Cars Stadium, Airdrie, at 7.45pm on Friday, October 1.

Get your tickets here

Tickets are priced at just £4 for under-16s and £8 for adults – you can bring the whole gang to get involved as league action restarts for the Celtic B team.

Please note, parking at the Penny Cars stadium is charged at £2 on site.

Back in action: Celtic B team finally ready to return to the pitch