STALYBRIDGE Celtic had a new-look squad as they began the second half of their Northern Premier League campaign.
They made five signings over a two-day period in early January followed shortly afterwards by a sixth capture to bolster a squad in the wake of the departure of six players.
Loanees Adam O’Reilly, Jake Burton, Josh Dawodu and Hayden Campbell have returned to parent clubs Preston North End, Tranmere Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday and Salford City respectively while goalkeeper Will Huffer has accepted a new job in London and full back Doug Nyaupembe has moved to Radcliffe Borough.
New to the squad are goalkeeper Liam Hughes on a season-long loan from Premier League club Liverpool, striker Luke Stowe from Accrington Stanley and midfielder Matty Liptrott from Blackpool, both on 28-day loans.
Permanent signings are striker Raul Correia from League of Wales side Aberwystywth and winger Aarron Grewal from West Didsbury & Chorlton.
Hughes, 20, is a member of Liverpool’s Under-23 side which plays in Premier League 2 and has been named on the bench for two first-team matches.
The Northern Ireland U21 international signed for Liverpool from Glasgow Celtic in 2018 having also played for Portadown and Dungannon Swifts in his home country.
Celtic had had huge issues after Grant Shenton was injured early in the campaign and used six goalkeepers in the opening half of their Northern Premier League campaign.
The search for a proven striker ended with the capture of the well-travelled Correia who was born in Angola.
Correia, 28, has spent the last 18 months playing in Wales for Bala Town and Aberwystywth Town having earlier had an 18-month spell as a full-time pro at Blackpool.
Since leaving the Seasiders in 2018, Correia has had spells at Barrow, Mossley and Southport before latterly playing in Wales.
Assistant manager Stephen O’Halloran revealed the club had Correia in the radar before he joined Aberwystywth.
“We are delighted to have Raul as one of our own and not on loan and we know he is here permanently,” he explained.
Ntumba Massanka, who Celtic tried to sign before he joined South Shields who are full time, became a second striker signing.
The 25-year-old joined Shields in the summer of 2021 and before had featured for Italian side ASD Angelana after previously being with Chorley in the National League.
Ntumba spent time in the youth systems at Manchester United and Manchester City before joining Burnley and signing professional terms in 2015.
Loan spells at York, Morecambe and Wrexham were followed by spells at Dover and RWDM47 in Belgium.
“We knew all about Ntumba who impressed when playing against us for South Shields where he has fallen down the pecking order. It is great to have him here until the end of the season,” said O’Halloran.
Liptrott captained Blackpool’s development squad for the 2020-21 season and has spent time on loan at Prescott Cables earlier this season.
The 19-year-old is described as a combative midfield player, but he has been starring for Celtic at right back following the departure of Dawodu.
Grewal, 20, was known to Celtic as he scored the only goal of the game against them in a pre-season friendly loss at West Didsbury & Chorlton. He had previously been at Curzon Ashton.
Striker Stowe arrives on loan from Accrington Stanley where he rose through their academy and signed a pro contract in the summer of 2021.
O’Halloran added the challenge is integrating the players into the team mid-season and blending them into their 4-3-3 system to form a winning team.
Celtic are in no immediate danger but are still by no means clear of the threat of relegation.
“We saw earlier in the season when we won four games in a row how quickly it can push you up the table,” he said.