Noel Whelan has reacted to the news that Celtic have bid farewell to attacker Jack Aitchison, who has recently joined Barnsley on a three-year deal.
Aitchison got a taste of EFL football last season, spending the campaign on loan in Sky Bet League Two with Forest Green Rovers.
The 20-year-old scored six goals and registered five assists in a total of 30 appearances, as Mark Cooper's side finished 10th in League Two after the season was curtailed.
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Aitchison, though, who has scored one goal in three first-team appearances for Celtic, has recently been let go by the Scottish Champions, after failing to break into Neil Lennon's first-team plans.
Barnsley have recently completed the signing of the attacker on a three-year deal, and he will now spend the season on loan in League Two once again, this time with Stevenage.
Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claims that it was the right decision for Celtic to let Aitchison go if he wasn't going to get into the team.
He said: "It is great to see a young player getting out there in search of first team football. It is the best thing for Aitchison.
"If he is not up to scratch and is not going to be required throughout the season then it is best to cut them loose.
"The club will know the good players they have got coming through their ranks. If a player is not up to their requirements then they will let them go.
"You never know, in few years time, playing at Barnsley, they might reconsider and sign him back for a lot more!"
The Verdict
Aitchison was really impressive in League Two for Forest Green last season, and I'm surprised to see him be loaned back down to the fourth tier.
I thought a loan move to a League One side would have been best for him, but it seems as if his new club Barnsley want to take another good look at him in a division where he thrived last term.
He's still young and has bags of potential, and Celtic will hope that they don't regret letting him leave.