Socceroo Aaron Mooy impresses in starting debut for Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic

Aaron Mooy wasn’t about to waste the starting opportunity given to him by Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou was pleased with his side’s Scottish League Cup win over Ross County. Picture: Steve Welsh/Getty Images

Socceroos midfielder Aaron Mooy made a strong case for a place in Celtic’s starting side for Saturday night’s Old Firm derby against Rangers with an impressive display in the Hoops’ 4-1 Scottish League Cup win over Ross County.

Mooy was given his first competitive start by Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou, who made nine changes to the team that started in the Hoops’ 9-0 Scottish Premiership weekend thrashing of Dundee United.

“I’m really pleased … credit to the players that came in, with some of them making their first starts, and I thought our performance was really strong,” former Socceroos coach Postecoglou told Celtic TV.

Mooy previously had to be content with appearances off the bench for Celtic after joining the Glasgow giants in July.

⚡️ @M_daizen_1020 restores our two-goal advantage! #ROSCEL | #PremierSportsCup | #COYBIG 🍀

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— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) August 31, 2022

However, given a start in the Cup second-round clash at Global Energy Stadium on Thursday morning (AEST), the 31-year-old former Melbourne City star was calm and composed in Celtic’s engine room, always providing himself as an option and displaying an array of his passing skills.

Mooy also didn’t shy away from his defensive duties as Celtic progressed to a quarter-final date with Motherwell thanks to goals from captain Callum McGregor, attackers Giorgios Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda, and midfielder James Forrest.

“Today gives me the comfort that anyone I need to throw in is ready to go and to perform at a good level,” Postecoglou said.

“Every game and competition we need to win and strive for. It’s good to be in the next round as it was potentially difficult here and we got through it with a strong performance.

“We will prepare for the next game (against Rangers) now and see how the boys recover and how the ones that didn’t play are, and we will have a team ready to go.”

Originally published as Socceroo Aaron Mooy impresses in starting debut for Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic