Part 1

Part 2

In part one of our latest SportCast, Darryl Broadfoot, Thomas Jordan, Bert Mitchell and Graeme Macpherson chew the fat over Celtic and give their views on the Parkhead captaincy. Then in part two, they turn their focus on Rangers. It's been a quiet summer at Ibrox - will the return of the squad to pre-season training hasten the arrival or departure of players?

TONY MOWBRAY is ready to give a bunch of Bhoys the chance to prove they have what it takes to come of age in his Celtic side.

The Hoops boss has arrived with an open mind and that could open doors for a group of young players pushing for an opportunity to show they can be part of his plans.

A shortage of players fit and ready to go for the fast-approaching pre-season games has forced Mowbray's hand, though he appears keen to let everyone show what they can do, irrespective of status or age.

Stephen McManus, Scott McDonald and Barry Robson have all reported back in various stages of recovery following injury problems at the end of last season.

Paul Hartley, Shunsuke Nakamura, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and Jo Doumbe have all left at the end of their contracts and with only Lukasz Zaluska using the in door so far, there is a problem with quantity, even if the manager is happy with the quality.

Mowbray said: "I'd suggest that, given where we are at the moment with the squad, there are going to be some young players coming with us to some of the pre-season games.

"They will get some opportunities to play and it will give me the chance to watch them and see if they have the right qualities to play for this team."

What Mowbray admits is a "tough schedule" of warm-up games - put in place before he took over - kicks off on Sunday when Celtic meet Brisbane Roar in Australia.

That journey to the other side of the world will be followed by a few days' recovery, then a bit more of the hard graft which has been the order of the day for the squad since they reported back for training on Wednesday.

After that it will be a quick flight to Wales to help Cardiff open their new stadium on Wednesday July 22. That game is immediately followed by a hop across to London for the first of Celtic's Wembley Cup games, against Egyptian side Al-Ahly on Friday July 24.

Spurs come next at the same venue two days later before the action begins for real with a Champions League qualifying third-round tie on July 28 or 29, with the draw to be made in 11 days' time.

The two legs are split by the home friendly against Sunderland on August 1 and the visit to Manchester City the following weekend. By then, Mowbray hopes to have seen every one of his players in action to some extent, giving a clutch of kids what could be their big - and maybe best - chance to make a first-team breakthrough.

Leading the way will be Simon Ferry, a midfielder who, had he had any luck, would already have made his pitch for a place in the top squad.

Years of problems with an ankle injury precluded him playing for the reserves, let alone the first team.

But on the evidence of his performances towards the end of last season, which were good enough to win him a place on Gordon Strachan's bench, Ferry has quickly made up for lost time and has the football brain, passing ability and energy to impress Mowbray.

Paul Caddis is another who has got to the fringes of the first team, only to slip back.

The full-back has made some appearances, including one in the Champions League against Barcelona the season before last. But his lack of height worked against him and, ultimately, he was pushed into a wing-back role.

His loan spell at Dundee United has allowed him to return to Lennoxtown with much more experience under his belt, but he needs to convince Mowbray he can play and pass as well as run and tackle.

Cillian Sheridan also benefited from going out on loan, in the gangly striker's case to Motherwell where he got to test himself against first-team defenders. The Republic of Ireland Under-21 striker would be the first to admit he could have made more of the opportunity, and concerns remain about his strength as his weight has still not caught up with his height.

However, hat is not in doubt is his eye for goal. And if he can get off to a flier in the pre-season matches, the confidence so essential to his game would return to help him stake his claim for consideration as a tall front man.

Paul McGowan got much-needed games during his loan spell at Hamilton, having previously benefited from a period with Morton.

But doubts still remain about what is his best position as he appears too small and lightweight for a striker's shirt. Perhaps if Mowbray were to go with three up front there may be more scope for him to play.

But if Gowzer does not make an impact this season, a permanent move away from Celtic may be his best option.

Ryan Conroy has been handed another year's contract and the chance to prove he can make the step up from captain of the successful reserve side to a serous contender for a place in the top team.

He has looked far more accomplished playing in left midfield than he ever did when being transformed into a make-shift left-back.

But competition from the likes of Aiden McGeady and Shaun Maloney will mean he has to show even more versatility. Ben Hutchinson has been blighted by injuries since he arrived at Celtic, most notably to his hamstrings.

A growth on his foot required surgery towards the end of last season and prevented him stepping into the breach when Vennegoor and Georgios Samaras were out or off form.

Mowbray will know about Hutchinson from his time at previous club Middlesbrough, but the youngster must hit the ground running if the boss is to be sufficiently impressed.

And hitting the target in the pre-season games with the kind of regularity which characterised his season in the reserve side would be appreciated by everyone at the club.