Celtic vs Falkirk LIVE score and goal updates from Premier Sports Cup quarter final clash

Celtic vs Falkirk LIVE score and goal updates from Premier Sports Cup quarter final clash

Brendan Rodgers takes on John McGlynn in League Cup battle of the Invincibles

Celtic host John McGlynn’s Falkirk in today’s quarter-final clash

The Celtic train is rolling along nicely after a 100 per cent start to the season.

And following a five-star display in the Champions League against Slovan Bratislava, it’s expected that the next stop will be the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals.

But unbeaten Falkirk stand between Brendan Rodgers and a spot in the last four, where his side will face one of Motherwell, Aberdeen or Rangers.

The Bairns have already sprung a surprise in this competition, dumping out sorry Hearts in the last round to set up today’s Parkhead showdown.

But the champions away from home will present a far more formidable test than the Jambos did, and no one is giving McGlynn’s men much hope of upsetting the odds.

Rodgers may well ring the changes and Celtic will remain strong as they juggle the domestic charge with European improvements.

Record Sport will be across all the action from Glasgow’s East End right here on the LIVE blog.

12:10Michael Gannon

Celtic board can ease up on the backslapping

Brendan Rodgers

There will have been an outburst of backslapping in the Celtic boardroom this week with the Slovan Bratislava bashing a couple of days after announcing bumper financial results.

The Hoops are off to a Champions League flier, unbeaten in the league and set for a crack at the last four of the Premier Sports Cup. It all looks so rosy in the garden the only danger on the horizon is getting hay fever. But the Celtic Park suits shouldn’t be stopping to smell the flowers. They sit pretty right now – but it’s been a thorny path to get here. And for all the high-fiving going on, there should be the self-awareness to accept lessons must be learned.

The board might be feeling pretty chuffed, especially when Brendan Rodgers said on Friday the club had been vindicated its strategy. But it was a cute way of phrasing it. The manager is the one who has been vindicated. It’s Rodgers who wanted the streamlined recruitment process of buying a couple of £10m players rather than scattering £20m on 10 new faces and hoping one or two came good.

Miller’s got just the ticket

Falkirk winger Calvin Miller (Image: SNS Group)

It’s a ritual when lower-league opposition pitches up at Parkhead or Ibrox in the cup to ask who has been begging players for briefs.

“Nobody needs a ticket this week for the Falkirk end so that tells you a lot!” laughed Celt turned Bairn Calvin Miller when put to him. Sure enough, the 26-year-old was in the stands himself on Wednesday to watch Brendan Rodgers’ side warm up for today with a 5-1 shellacking of Slovan Bratislava.

Every time the net bulged may have brought glee and a gulp in tandem but the attacker is adamant sides bossed by John McGlynn, just like his old gaffer Rodgers, will leave the bus where it belongs in the car park.

12:04Hugh Keevins

Celtic strength there for all to see

Celtic new signings

Celtic fans have long wanted the club to be taken to the next level. When the BBC showed Celtic’s systematic dismantling of Slovan Bratislava to the nation ahead of Manchester City’s game with Inter Milan, on the basis it was a better watch, the club knew it had arrived at its destination.

Brendan Rodgers knows, though, that doesn’t allow his players to believe there are other competitions too parochial to be of any concern to them. “We can never, ever forget … the bread and butter,” he said after the league defeat of Hearts. “It’s so important. It’s the lives of so many supporters, especially in Glasgow. We can never discount that.”

The next level means you are charged with the responsibility of being successful at home and abroad. Falkirk stand between Celtic and the potential winning of the first trophy that goes towards a domestic Treble. When Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell announced the club’s latest set of financial figures, from a different stratosphere to any other club in the country, he included a mission statement. “We must strive for progression as a club as the industry evolves at a remarkable pace,” he said.

Lawwell also knows that doesn’t mean lavish cash reserves, and reputational refurbishment in Europe, diminish other competitions to the level of a two-bob irrelevance.

Rodgers could make 11 changes to his starting line-up from the side who created Champions League history by recording their biggest win in the competition. And he’d still field a side containing seven-figure signings and capped players from a variety of countries.

 

Former Rangers and Liverpool man says he’d have ‘preferred’ new Celtic signing to make Ibrox switch

The new Hoops star was brought in this summer from EFL Championship outfit Sheffield United.

It was a busy summer transfer window across the Scottish Premiership with several clubs making big moves to strengthen their squads and other players leaving on high profile deals.

Celtic raked in the cash with the sale of Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion but weren’t shy in spending it either on the likes of Arne Engels and Adam Idah. Another player they brought in was defender Auston Trusty who was brought in from Sheffield United and signed a five year contract with the Scottish champions.

The USA international may have only made one appearance so far this season but one of his former teammates says he will be ‘hard to shift’ when he does breakthrough into the starting XI. Danny Wilson, the former Rangers and Hearts centre back now with Championship side Queen’s Park, played alongside Trusty at MLS outfit Colorado Rapids.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/celtic-pressure-auston-trusty-rangers-33712844

Speaking about the new Hoops man, Wilson says he would rather have seen him join old club Rangers but is tipping the defender for success in the Scottish Premiership. Speaking to the Daily Record, he said: “I spoke to Auston last year when the Rangers interest was there. I didn’t think he’d end up at Ibrox as I always felt he’d want to test himself in the Premier League.

“I touched base with him to see if there was anything in it – but he wasn’t giving too much away. I’d have preferred if he was on the other side of the city. But he’ll do well at Celtic, I’ve no doubts about that. Auston will handle it here. Nothing seems to faze him and he’s relaxed in everything he does. He’s also got a real belief in his ability.

“Going to a club like Celtic won’t faze him at all. He’ll have to earn the right to be a starter there but once he does, he’ll be fine. He’s got a job on his hands with Scales in the team. But once Auston gets in, it will be very hard to shift him. He’s got the right temperament for Glasgow. That has led him to this move.

“He hasn’t rushed anything he’s ever done, he’s made smart steps at the right time in his career. He now finds himself at a Champions League club in Celtic and they’ll be strong favourites for the title and domestic cups. That’s the challenge for Auston, to go and win things. Last season, with all respect, nothing was expected of Sheffield United in the Champions League. But he’s in a different scenario now where everything is expected of them.

“I don’t have to give him any advice because he’s a sensible guy. He doesn’t drink and he looks after himself, in terms of his diet and stuff like that. He’s not someone who’s out all the time, which is important when you play for one of the big two in Glasgow. You can’t be here, there and everywhere. Auston isn’t that type and when Celtic will have done their checks on him, they’ll have found this out. They’ll know he has the temperament to be successful there. Anyone who has ever worked with him will have told them that.”

Backslapping Celtic board need self awareness as cute Brendan Rodgers comments show who’s really driving the process

Bashing Slovan Bratislava after banking even more cash doesn’t mean Parkhead powerbrokers have cracked it

There will have been an outburst of backslapping in the Celtic boardroom this week with the Slovan Bratislava bashing a couple of days after announcing bumper financial results.

The Hoops are off to a Champions League flier, unbeaten in the league and set for a crack at the last four of the Premier Sports Cup. It all looks so rosy in the garden the only danger on the horizon is getting hay fever. But the Celtic Park suits shouldn’t be stopping to smell the flowers. They sit pretty right now – but it’s been a thorny path to get here. And for all the high-fiving going on, there should be the self-awareness to accept lessons must be learned.

The board might be feeling pretty chuffed, especially when Brendan Rodgers said on Friday the club had been vindicated its strategy. But it was a cute way of phrasing it. The manager is the one who has been vindicated. It’s Rodgers who wanted the streamlined recruitment process of buying a couple of £10m players rather than scattering £20m on 10 new faces and hoping one or two came good.

It’s only a few weeks since the manager admitted there were issues in the recruitment department that need addressing. A solid final week of the window doesn’t change that. Rodgers rightly hailed the recruitment team for unearthing Arne Engels. But it took until the final days of the window to secure him and the rest of recruitment was pretty much on the boss.

He’s the one who got on the blower to land Kasper Schmeichel. He liked the look of Luke McCowan and jumped when the chance arose. Before then, Rodgers was the man who wanted Adam Idah – who could have been snapped up for far less dosh if the board hadn’t baulked at the fee back in January.

Rodgers has driven the process since the woeful first summer window after his return and that is going to be an issue for the next phase of his masterplan. The Engels deal is the one that will have had the board in cold sweats but that is exactly the kind of business Celtic need to be doing to advance the club.

Poor previous performances have left the coefficient in the gutter and automatic qualification is out of the window again. There needs to be three Engels a season coming in – and that means the recruitment side needs to be sharpened up and the model severely tweaked.

Celtic’s financial statement spoke for itself but “keep doing what we’re doing” isn’t a concrete five-to- 10-year plan. They won’t always have Rodgers to rely on and recruitment and stadium issues will need to be tackled.

Chief executive Michael Nicholson still hasn’t sat down with the media since taking the helm and as long as the punters keep shelling out, they deserve to be kept in the loop. Celtic can’t afford to rest on their laurels as a slap on the back is only a few inches higher than a boot up the backside.

As Celtic prepare to face Falkirk in the League Cup this weekend, Luis Palma has been told what he needs to do to get back into Brendan Rodgers’ starting lineup.

The Honduran international has struggled to reclaim his spot ever since picking up an injury against Kilmarnock on the opening day of the season.

On top of that, the form of Daizen Maeda, Nicolas Kuhn and James Forrest has also meant that Palma faces the difficult task of even getting off the bench after being an unused substitute in the Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava midweek.

However, despite that, Luis Palma has been told exactly what he must do to get himself back in contention for a starting spot at Celtic so he can be a regular starter once again.

Palma needs to hit the gym at Celtic

Honduras legend, Rambo de Leon, has been speaking about Palma’s struggles at Celtic and believes that his fellow countryman needs to work on his physicality.

De Leon has played for the likes of Torino, Parma and Genoa over the course of his career and also picked up 83 caps for his country before he retired so is well-placed to offer the Celtic winger some words of advice.

De Leon told Deportes TVC, “The boy has been recovering from a knock, let’s hope he gets back to his best so he can return to the starting line-up.”

“It is difficult to return to the starting line-up when you are injured, you have enough capacity to do it, you have to be a bit more aggressive because nowadays you have to know how to kick, to make yourself respected.”

“He has the technical quality, but physically he is unbalanced, he needs to do a bit more gym, when he manages to get that he will be a starter wherever he is.”

Palma’s big season at Celtic

Palma had a blistering start to his career at Celtic as he made his mark not only on the domestic scene but also in the Champions League last season.

However, he struggled to re-capture that form and faded onto the Celtic bench in the second half of last season.

With Brendan Rodgers adding more quality to the Celtic squad over the summer and looking to strengthen again in January, Palma needs to produce the goods as the Celtic boss has already proven that if he believes a player won’t do a job for him, he will be ruthless and move them on.

Palma does have the quality to shine as he proved on the US Tour, if he gets his chance this afternoon against Falkirk, then the Honduran will need to show the Celtic boss he has listened to his advice and has a place at Paradise.

Arne Engels has made an impressive start to life at Celtic.

It’s never easy donning those Celtic colours because the pressure is immense, especially when you are the club-record transfer.

But Engels has helped Brendan Rodgers make the perfect start in the Scottish Premiership and then play a key role in Celtic’s dominating Champions League win.

It all started with that penalty against Hearts and he showcased his composure again from the spot when the team put five goals past Slovan Bratislava.

In recent times, questions have been raised and debates have raged as to whether the powers that be splash the cash on players like they should.

Everyone was gutted to see Matt O’Riley leave Celtic, but it was expected, as fans were more concerned about how that £30 million was going to be spent.

Andy Walker expressed how he doubted the Bhoys spending the big money and how he didn’t expect a player like Engels to arrive.

But to his shock, £11 million was put down on the table for the 21-year-old and he has now ‘settled in so quickly’, as he told Go Radio.

Walker admitted that he got it ‘wrong’ with the midfielder and now he is watching him thrive in the middle of the park for his new club.

But Walker also interestingly claimed that Celtic would only allow Rodgers to spend that sort of money and wouldn’t have given that power to past managers.

Arne Engels’ Celtic transfer fee

“What I see is someone with a big reputation now, he has come for a huge fee and you can already see that he has settled in so quickly,” said Walker.

“There has been no setting in period if you like. He has been effective since getting the shirt. You can see that he has got goals in him. He has some key passes. He has some forward passes. He has some killer passes in him. He has good physique, running power and energy.

“He is the type of player every Celtic supporter was wanting the club to sign. Spend a bit of money. That’s where I got it wrong. I didn’t think Celtic would spend at that level. I don’t think they would have done with any other manager. I think they are believing in Brendan Rodgers and the possibility of him taking them a bit further in Europe. And getting them a bit of respectability that maybe was lacking over the last few years.”

Arne Engels has raised the levels at Celtic

What is impressive about the player is that he is effectively replacing O’Riley, so there is that pressure and then repping the champions.

But he has fired pretty much straightaway and also raised the levels

Andy Walker admits he has got it ‘wrong’ about Arne Engels at Celtic

 

Arne Engels has made an impressive start to life at Celtic.

It’s never easy donning those Celtic colours because the pressure is immense, especially when you are the club-record transfer.

But Engels has helped Brendan Rodgers make the perfect start in the Scottish Premiership and then play a key role in Celtic’s dominating Champions League win.

It all started with that penalty against Hearts and he showcased his composure again from the spot when the team put five goals past Slovan Bratislava.

In recent times, questions have been raised and debates have raged as to whether the powers that be splash the cash on players like they should.

Everyone was gutted to see Matt O’Riley leave Celtic, but it was expected, as fans were more concerned about how that £30 million was going to be spent.

Andy Walker expressed how he doubted the Bhoys spending the big money and how he didn’t expect a player like Engels to arrive.

But to his shock, £11 million was put down on the table for the 21-year-old and he has now ‘settled in so quickly’, as he told Go Radio.

Walker admitted that he got it ‘wrong’ with the midfielder and now he is watching him thrive in the middle of the park for his new club.

But Walker also interestingly claimed that Celtic would only allow Rodgers to spend that sort of money and wouldn’t have given that power to past managers.

Arne Engels’ Celtic transfer fee

“What I see is someone with a big reputation now, he has come for a huge fee and you can already see that he has settled in so quickly,” said Walker.

“There has been no setting in period if you like. He has been effective since getting the shirt. You can see that he has got goals in him. He has some key passes. He has some forward passes. He has some killer passes in him. He has good physique, running power and energy.

“He is the type of player every Celtic supporter was wanting the club to sign. Spend a bit of money. That’s where I got it wrong. I didn’t think Celtic would spend at that level. I don’t think they would have done with any other manager. I think they are believing in Brendan Rodgers and the possibility of him taking them a bit further in Europe. And getting them a bit of respectability that maybe was lacking over the last few years.”

Arne Engels has raised the levels at Celtic

What is impressive about the player is that he is effectively replacing O’Riley, so there is that pressure and then repping the champions.

But he has fired pretty much straightaway and also raised the levels, which only helps the team and the club’s bench strength.

Paulo Bernardo is pretty unlucky not to be starting for Celtic, but to have a man of that quality on the bench just proves the depth the team has.

Even looking towards other players, Adam Idah could lead the line for Celtic and fire them to titles, but he has Kyogo Furuhashi ahead of him.

, which only helps the team and the club’s bench strength.

Paulo Bernardo is pretty unlucky not to be starting for Celtic, but to have a man of that quality on the bench just proves the depth the team has.

Even looking towards other players, Adam Idah could lead the line for Celtic and fire them to titles, but he has Kyogo Furuhashi ahead of him.

THE JOCK STEIN YEARS: Part Twelve

CELTIC legend Jock Stein made an extraordinary immediate impact on the Parkhead club when he returned as manager in March 1965.

In another CQN EXCLUSIVE,  Alex Gordon, author of fifteen publications on Celtic, has opened his book files on the Parkhead great for an absorbing twenty-one part series.

Today, in Part Twelve of our fascinating look back at these landmark times in the annals of fame at a momentous football club, we  continue with a memory that still haunts Celtic – the 2-1 European Cup Final loss to Feyenoord on May 6 1970 in the San Siro Stadium in Milan.

DAVIE HAY still insists Celtic would have won at least one more European Cup if the club had managed to hold on to the cream of the Quality Street Gang; the group of supremely-gifted youngsters who were eagerly awaiting their opportunity to emulate, and possibly eclipse, the Lisbon Lions.

Kenny Dalglish, Lou Macari and Hay were sold as the club cashed in on their talents. George Connelly, disillusioned by football, sadly strayed out of the game. Danny McGrain, a genuine world class right-back, remained loyal to the club, but could have done with the company of team-mates of a similar and substantial stature.

‘It was a shame that side was broken up in the seventies,’ said Hay. ‘If the club had done more to keep us, I have no doubt we would have all been delighted to remain Celtic players for the rest of our careers.

‘For my own part, I had sought the sort of wage I thought I merited. I wasn’t being greedy; money has never been my god. I wasn’t looking for a fortune, either.

‘I had a family, a mortgage, a car and all the other household bills that can mount up. But my basic wage at Celtic was only £65-per-week and I thought I was worth £100.

‘Don’t get me wrong, the bonuses were excellent. However, if you were injured, suspended or simply dropped, then you were on the basic. That made life tough.

‘I had gone on a one-man strike, but had returned in a 3-1 League Cup semi-final win against Rangers in December before going to play for Scotland in the World Cup Finals in West Germany the following summer in 1974. Even if I do say so myself, I had quite a successful tournament and my name was being mentioned with some top English clubs.

‘Manchester United and Leeds, I believe, had shown interest. I had even had talks with Spurs boss Bill Nicholson, but I preferred to remain at Celtic.

‘When I arrived home after the competition I had made up my mind I would patch up my differences with Celtic and remain at the club. I had discussed it fully with my wife, Catherine, and I was going to accept what was on offer at Parkhead, buy a pub as a safety net and concentrate completely on getting on with business at the club that was always closest to my heart. There would be no more walk-outs.

‘I was, as always, prepared to do my utmost for Celtic and the supporters. Big Jock had other ideas. I was summoned to Parkhead on a Sunday morning and, before I could say a word, Jock told me, “I think it’s better you move on.” Just like that. My Celtic career ended there and then.

‘I wanted to stay, but, clearly, I was being shown the door and that hurt. Chelsea, I was soon to discover, were willing to pay a hefty fee for me. That would have appealed to the Celtic board back then. I had cost nothing and I was about to be sold for over a quarter-of-a-million pounds. They had accepted £200,000 for Lou Macari from Manchester United a year earlier.

‘Lou didn’t want to go, either, but football is a short career and, without sounding mercenary, you have to make the money while you can. Chelsea offered me a basic wage of £215-per-week, more than double what I thought I was worth to Celtic.

“Importantly, they made me feel wanted. I signed for them and Kenny Dalglish would be the next big-name transfer out of Parkhead when he joined Liverpool for £440,000 a few years later.

‘I often wonder what would have happened if we had all stayed and played throughout the seventies. I am utterly convinced we would have conquered Europe again. If the board had invested in the team with a couple of other quality players and paid the going rate in wages, I’m sure we would have remained at the top for years.

‘Without sounding in any way conceited – anyone who knows me will tell you I am not that sort of person – I believe a team with the nucleus of myself, Lou, Kenny, Danny and George, would have taken some shifting. I was very friendly with George at Celtic and I still am today. He was a big honest laddie, maybe a bit shy of all the publicity and fuss that was made of a Celtic player.

‘If I had stuck around, who knows what might have happened? Possibly George would have, too, because I was a pal he could always confide in. If there was anything troubling George he knew where to come. He even came out in support of me and staged his own walk-out. Now that’s solidarity!’

There was speculation that the Celtic players had taken their eye off the ball while they thrashed out commercial deals before the 1970 European Cup Final.

‘Not so,’ answered Hay. ‘Yes, an agent had been appointed to look after those sort of matters, but it certainly didn’t interfere with our preparations for the game. A story broke around that time, but it was all a lot of baloney. No doubt, lawyers would be brought in these days and writs would fly about, but back then we just shrugged our shoulders and thought no more about it.’

Despite possibly his best game for the club, Evan Williams was ultimately a loser in the 2-1 extra-time defeat against Feyenoord. He recalled, ‘I thought I played well that night. It was maybe just as well because I don’t think I was ever worked so hard in any game for the club before or after.

‘The Dutch just kept coming at us in waves and they were hammering in shots from all over the place. We were only about two minutes away from a replay – they didn’t have penalty-kicks in those days – when Ove Kindvall got their winning goal.’

Hay said, ‘Believe me, if we had played them again we would have beaten them. We wouldn’t have got caught cold again. They were a whole lot better than we anticipated. They were really well organised and had excellent players.

‘Even Big Jock appeared to write them off. He told us their left-sided midfielder Wim van Hanagem was “a poor man’s Jim Baxter”. We were told he would tire and drop out of things after about half-an-hour. He was still pinging passes all over the place in extra-time.

‘Like Bobby Murdoch, Bertie Auld and George Connelly, he was a great exponent of making the ball do all the work. By the way, he was also good enough to make over one hundred appearances for Holland, including the 1974 World Cup Final against West Germany.

‘He was a player we never got to grips with in the San Siro, but he would never have had the luxury of time and space in any replay. Big Jock also changed the line-up of the side that had beaten Leeds United home and away, going with two midfielders, Bobby and Bertie, and dropping George to the subs’ bench.

‘Unfortunately, Feyenoord were extremely strong in that part of the pitch and it was virtually impossible for our two guys to dominate the way they had done against Inter Milan three years earlier.

‘Kindvall, up front, had a fabulous turn of pace and was a constant threat when they got the ball forward. Wim Jansen, with whom I am still friendly after his one-season league-winning stint as Celtic manager in 1998, was in the middle of the park for them and he was a real dynamo. He was up and down the pitch all evening, tackling, passing and shooting.

‘Bertie would later joke that Big Jock had reassured him that he would not see Jansen in the final. “He was right,” said Bertie. “One minute he was there, the next he was gone.” Their manager was the astute Austrian Ernst Happel who had done his homework on Celtic.

‘Jinky was obviously pinpointed as a threat and, it must be admitted, Happel got his tactics spot on. Jinky was shown inside all night where Feyenoord double and even treble-banked when facing him. He would simply run into a wall of bodies in a congested area and then van Hanagem would reverse the roles with one of his accurate long-range passes.

‘There’s no way anyone can point the finger at Big Jock when you consider what he did for the club. However, he seemed quite relaxed preparing for this game. The guys who had played in Libson told me he was really strict in 1967.

‘He worried about how much pool time they should have, how long they could stay in the sun, what they were eating and drinking, when was the best time for meals, all that sort of stuff.

‘He was meticulous. It was different, though, in the countdown for this one.

‘Let’s face it, we all thought we would win. We had beaten very good Italian champions Fiorentina 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-final with Bertie putting on a remarkable display in the first leg in Glasgow. I played that night and Bertie was exceptional.

‘We had also taken care of Leeds United home and away in the semi-final. A goal from George in the opening moments was enough at their place and, after my wee Scottish mate Billy Bremner had levelled on aggregate with a fantastic strike at Hampden, John Hughes and then Bobby Murdoch netted in the second-half to give us a 3-1 overall victory.

‘We were already being hailed as European champions because the English media had assured everyone that Leeds were the best team in the world and not just Europe. You know, Big Jock wanted to play them in the Final. That was his wish. He groaned when he heard the semi-final draw.

‘He knew we could beat Leeds and he wanted to do it while the rest of Europe was looking on. I don’t think we were complacent against Feyenoord. Confident, yes, but not complacent. They played really well at the San Siro. Yet, we opened the scoring when Bobby Murdoch back-heeled a free-kick to Tommy Gemmell and he fired a ferocious drive into the net from just outside the box.

‘Bobby Lennox scored a perfectly legitimate goal, too, that was ruled out. We didn’t make a fuss at the time after he cut in from the left to hit a right foot shot across their keeper and into the corner of the net. The Italian referee, Concetto Lo Bello, ruled it out for offside.

‘Later on, we saw film of the game and, amazingly, Bobby was played onside by three of their defenders. Not one or two, but three. That wee man was far too fast for his own good.

‘To be honest, though, the Dutch played very, very well. They had a game plan and they stuck to it. We were asked to defend more often in that game than any other I can remember. Evan Williams was brilliant, probably his best-ever performance for us.

‘They were solid at the back and they broke forward in numbers. We were out of sorts. Maybe if we had held our lead until half-time we might have done a whole lot better. As it was, they got a dodgy free-kick on the right and, after a bit of ping pong in our penalty area, the ball fell perfectly for their skipper Rinus Israel to head back across Evan high into the net. Our advantage lasted approximately three minutes.

‘Their winning goal was downright bizarre, but, at least, showed the sportsmanship of Bobby Murdoch. The referee awarded them a free-kick about midway in our half in from the right. The ball was rolling away and Bobby, with all the innocence in the world, picked it up and handed to his Dutch opponent.

‘He could have let the ball run and the Dutch would have had to go and retrieve it for themselves. He could even have given it another nudge to send it further down the line. That would have given us time to erect a defensive wall and prepare for any threat. Bobby, though, actually picked up the ball and threw it to a Feyenoord player.

‘The Dutchman didn’t even have the good grace to say thank you. He planted it on the ground, looked up, spotted Kindvall lurking behind Big Billy and simply flighted the ball in the direction of his unmarked colleague.’

Billy McNeill recalled, ‘I still don’t know why I did what I did. I didn’t get the opportunity to organise the troops and, suddenly and without warning, the ball was dropping behind me. In normal circumstances, I would have set myself for a header, but, on this occasion, I was on the back foot.

‘I threw up my hands and stunned the ball. It dropped behind me where Kindvall was waiting and it couldn’t have sat up any better for him. He raced forward as Evan left his line and just managed to get his toe to the ball to lift it over our keeper into the net.

‘The referee had played advantage and I am often asked what would have happened if Kindvall had missed. The letter of the law says the game would have remained 1-1.

‘It should have been a penalty-kick, of course, because of my handball, but the match official had waved play on, so, technically, he had overlooked that offence to play the advantage rule.

‘You can’t have it both ways. It’s all conjecture now. He scored and we lost. Although I do agree with Davie, we would have beaten them in a replay. That would have been an entirely different game.

Celtic pressure won’t faze my mate Auston Trusty – I just wish he’d signed for Rangers instead

Danny Wilson was Auston Trusty’s defensive partner in the MLS and ex-Ibrox defender is convinced that he’ll excel for Celtic

Auston Trusty savours Celtic debut as he comes on in Champions League thumping win

He wishes his pal had ended up on the blue side of Glasgow. Actually, he even tried to play a tiny part in making it happen. But the fact Auston Trusty signed for Celtic and not Rangers this summer doesn’t change Danny Wilson’s view.

That the American is going to excel in Scotland and thrive under the pressure of playing for an Old Firm club. Wilson was Trusty’s defensive partner at MLS outfit Colorado Rapids for three years. And the former Rangers centre-back has never been in any doubt about his ability. Trusty earned a big move to Arsenal and was linked with a move to Ibrox last year before a switch to Sheffield United.

After sampling the Premier League, he’s now at Parkhead after Brendan Rodgers splurged £6 million of his summer transfer budget to get him. On Wednesday night, Trusty made his Hoops debut off the bench in their 5-1 Champions League demolition of Slovan Bratislava. And the USA international is likely to be handed his first start in Sunday’s Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Falkirk.

Right now, he’s having to bide his time with Irish defender Liam Scales in possession of a shirt alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers. But Wilson is convinced that when Trusty eventually becomes a fixture in Rodgers’ line-up – he’ll stay there.

The 32-year-old told Record Sport: “I spoke to Auston last year when the Rangers interest was there. I didn’t think he’d end up at Ibrox as I always felt he’d want to test himself in the Premier League. “I touched base with him to see if there was anything in it – but he wasn’t giving too much away. I’d have preferred if he was on the other side of the city. But he’ll do well at Celtic, I’ve no doubts about that.

“Auston will handle it here. Nothing seems to faze him and he’s relaxed in everything he does. He’s also got a real belief in his ability.

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“Going to a club like Celtic won’t faze him at all. He’ll have to earn the right to be a starter there but once he does, he’ll be fine. He’s got a job on his hands with Scales in the team. But once Auston gets in, it will be very hard to shift him. He’s got the right temperament for Glasgow. That has led him to this move.

“He hasn’t rushed anything he’s ever done, he’s made smart steps at the right time in his career. He now finds himself at a Champions League club in Celtic and they’ll be strong favourites for the title and domestic cups. That’s the challenge for Auston, to go and win things.

“Last season, with all respect, nothing was expected of Sheffield United in the Champions League. But he’s in a different scenario now where everything is expected of them.

“I don’t have to give him any advice because he’s a sensible guy. He doesn’t drink and he looks after himself, in terms of his diet and stuff like that.

“He’s not someone who’s out all the time, which is important when you play for one of the big two in Glasgow. You can’t be here, there and everywhere. Auston isn’t that type and when Celtic will have done their checks on him, they’ll have found this out.

“They’ll know he has the temperament to be successful there. Anyone who has ever worked with him will have told them that.”

It takes a special type of character to deal with Old Firm pressure and be successful. But after seeing Trusty close up in the States and getting to know his personality, Wilson believes his former team-mate fits the criteria. The Scot, who was thrust into the limelight as a youngster at Ibrox before a move to Liverpool, says Trusty isn’t like most footballers.

He said: “Mentally, Auston is very switched on. He’s different from other players because he’s really intelligent. He’s into different things off the field and he’s got the right temperament for life at Celtic.

“They’ve made a good decision in buying him. Obviously there were links with Rangers last season and I was hoping that would happen. It never transpired and he was probably destined to have at least a season in the Premier League. But he’ll have wanted to test himself at Champions League level and he’ll get that opportunity now at Celtic.”

Wilson first met Trusty when he arrived in Colorado from Philadelphia Union as a 21-year-old centre-half. Despite a Covid-hit season in 2020, the pair soon connected, on and off the pitch. And Wilson, who is currently a free agent after leaving Queen’s Park this summer, always felt Trusty would reach the top. He said: “You could tell early on how good a player Auston was going to be.

“He came to us at a young age but had already played games for Philadelphia. We traded for him and, right away, you could see had all the attributes. He’s very good in all aspects of the game and is a great professional.

“He was 6ft 4, left-sided and quick. He just needed a wee bit of guidance. Initially, we were playing a back four and as we were both left-siders, it was either me or him playing. We were in competition with each other. But in the second year, we started together with me on the right before we eventually went into a back three.

“Pretty quickly, with the more games he played, it became clear we weren’t going to be able to hold on to Auston for much longer. And that’s how it panned out as he signed for Arsenal. He’s now got a big move to Celtic and he’ll do very well there.”

CELTIC v FALKIRK: 5-MINUTE QUIZ

CELTIC go into their second Premier Sports League Cup-tie of the season when they take on Falkirk in the quarter-final at Parkhead this afternoon.

Brendan Rodgers’ side overcame Hibs 3-1 in the previous round with a double from Daizen Maeda and another from Nicolas Kuhn.

How much can you remember about past associations with Falkirk? Have a go on CQN‘s fun five-minute quiz to test your knowledge.

Good luck!

QUESTIONS:

1: A Republic of Ireland legend scored his only Celtic goal against Falkirk in 2006. Can you name him?

2: Kasper Schmeichel saved a penalty-kick in his only game against Celtic on loan at Falkirk in 2007. Who was the spot-kick culprit?

3: Tommy Burns paid £380,000 for a centre-half from Falkirk in 1995. Can you remember his name?

4: True or false: Burns’ last game as Celtic manager was against Falkirk?

5: Celtic drew 1-1 with the Championship club in the Scottish Cup semi-final in April 1997. Who scored the Hoops’ goal that day?

The answers will be provided when the Hoops line-up is confirmed before kick-off.

Now that Celtic’s impressive midweek Champions League win is firmly in the bank, attention is now fully focused on this afternoon’s League Cup tie with Falkirk.

John McGlynn’s side travel to Celtic Park for the quarter-final cup clash hoping that they can take their impressive Championship league form and give Brendan Rodgers’ team a tough afternoon.

Falkirk currently has a 100% win rate in the second tier and sits second to Scott Brown’s Ayr United who have played one game more.

With 11 goals scored, Falkirk’s impressive start to the season since their promotion has them buzzing and defender, Coll Donaldson, looking forward to the League Cup visit to Celtic Park.

Strength of Celtic on Falkirk’s minds

Falkirk have been receiving plaudits for their results since coming up from League One as invincible champions but Donaldson believes that the strength of Celtic’s bench is something his team will need to be wary of.

Donaldson told The Falkirk Herald, “That’s what we spoke about [about sticking to Falkirk’s style of football].

“We’ve not done it yet. It’s easy to sit here and say we’re going there and we’ll pass the ball about.

“We need big characters, big personalities. You want people to be able to take the ball and look after the ball.

“So, yes, it’s more exciting. I’ve been in teams that you go there and it’s like you sit on the edge of your box and it might be nil-nil after 60 minutes, but you’re absolutely knackered and it feels like it’s just a matter of time.

“They bring on subs, fresh legs, and they’re not bringing on Tom, Dick and Harry. It’s internationalists that are coming off the bench.

“We’re really looking forward to it. I think our league position has allowed us to enjoy it even more than what you would.”

Donaldson confident of making it ‘awkward’ for Celtic

The Falkirk defender is clearly aware of the task facing his team but Donaldson believes that if they can stick to what they believe in then Falkirk can make life tough for Celtic this afternoon.

Donaldson continued, “Because if you’re struggling in the league and then even though you’re playing Celtic, you get beat again and it’s just defeats on top of defeats.

“But I have full confidence in the boys in there, even the boys that haven’t played there, I think we’ve shown on many occasions that we’ve got good, good characters in there.

“And we’re not going to be defined by how a League Cup game goes at Celtic.

“So as long as we can stick to our principles and stick together, I think we can try and make it an awkward afternoon.”

Donaldson has faced Celtic on a number of occasions whilst he was at Ross County a few seasons ago so knows what it’s like to play against the Scottish champions.

Indeed, Celtic have a number of players in their ranks who can give the Championship side a difficult day. But it needs to be said, so do Falkirk.

Dylan Tate is the man on form as the Falkirk midfielder has been one of their most dangerous players this season with two goals and two assists.

Celtic will also need to be wary of one of their former academy graduates, Calvin Miller, who is averaging 3.3 shots on goal with 1.5 of them hitting the target every 90 minutes. [Fotmob]

And, of course, their goalkeeper Nciky Hogarth is also enjoying some great form with only four goals conceded, two clean sheets and saves 76.5% of shots with an average of 2.6 efforts saved per game.

Although they will be confident of securing a result, Celtic will still need to be wary of the threats Falkirk have tp secure their place in the semi-final of the competition.

 

Watch: Tomoki Iwata Scores Another Birmingham City Stunner

Former Celtic man Tomoki Iwata has scored another stunner for Birmingham City this afternoon.

Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v Kilmarnock – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – August 4, 2024 Celtic’s Tomoki Iwata during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

It comes after the Japanese midfielder opened his account for the club on Monday evening in a 3-1 win over Wrexham.

Iwata found the back of the net from range with a thorough strike and once again did so today.

His side are away to Rotherham United this afternoon, and the 27-year-old opened the scoring 14 minutes in with a fine finish which found the bottom corner:

ROTHERHAM 0 – BLUES 1 #BCFC #KRO#ROTBIR pic.twitter.com/E0FuIfnsoY

— CMF (@Ohffs1984) September 21, 2024

In English League One, Iwata is strolling it already, as many Celtic fans expected he would.

Many eyebrows were raised when the treble-winner departed the Hoops on transfer deadline day, but he wanted regular minutes.

Iwata wasn’t guaranteed games at Celtic this campaign, but in his year and a half with the Scottish Premiership champions, he was always a dependable squad player.

The former Yokohama F. Marinos man offered a more defensive option in the middle of the park, which few other midfielders could.

He got his move down south and is pleasingly flourishing. Birmingham will be aiming to go straight back up to the English Championship this term, and it looks as though Iwata’s form could be key to them doing so.

Many anticipated he would stroll it at St. Andrew’s, and so far, that has been exactly the case.

 

Off the high of a midweek European onslaught, Celtic return to domestic action to face John McGlynn’s Falkirk. Just one match stands in their way as they bid for a return to Hampden. Although the Bairns will be no easy task, they areunbeaten in their last forty-three matches after all. Here on Last Word on Football, we provide our Celtic Predicted lineup for Sunday afternoon.

Celtic Predicted Lineup vs Falkirk

How Celtic have lined up recently

There has been little rotation in the East End of Glasgow, however with the schedule now heating up that is likely to change. The back five has remained unchanged with Kasper Schmeichel in between the sticks and Alistair Johnson, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Liam Scales and Greg Taylor sitting in front. This combination has conceded just two goals in six matches all season, and none in league action.

In the midfield, Reo Hatate and Callum McGregor have been main-stays with Paulo Bernardo and Arne Engels enjoying game time since Matt O’Riley exited. Although it is the Belgian international who has started the previous two games, scoring as many goals from the spot.

Read More: Etihad Stadium ‘Absolutely Dead’ but Celtic Park Is Alive and Kicking

Nicolas Kuhn, Kyogo and Daizen Maeda have been the favoured front three, with brilliant chemistry struck between the lightning-quick trio.

Although, we could see as many as ten changes this weekend. As risky as it sounds, there is major depth at Celtic, they can afford to do so.

Celtic Recent Form and Tactics

The Champions are in as good a place as ever. Five points in front of their rivals; four out of four clean sheets in the league, the standard has been impeccable.

Yet, domestic domination has become the norm in the past thirteen seasons. Progress in Europe is the next step. On Wednesday night, they dispatched Slovakian Champions Slovan Bratislava by five goals to one. With Scales, Kyogo, Engels, Maeda and Idah all on the scoresheet plus Engels, Kuhn, Hatate and Forrest all grabbing assists, the attacking depth was on display.

It was the first time Celtic won their opening game at the group/league stage of the Champions League, and with nine points likely enough, they have an excellent opportunity to progress. Against the likes of Club Brugge and Young Boys at home, you have to fancy them.

Tactically, the in-possession game hasn’t changed a whole lot. Typically, Brendan Rodgers’ men have played a 4-3-3, although we saw a variation in the Rangers home game with Bernardo playing deeper to form a 4-2-3-1 at times.

Out of possession, the hoops have usually pressed with a front three, although at times been in a 4-4-2 shape with Hatate joining Kyogo.

Injuries to Consider

Johnson was absent from training, with Brendan Rodgers confirming he was one of a few who had picked up niggles in the game midweek.

Celtic Predicted Lineup

There will be a range of changes, just McGregor will keep his place. This fixture will have been earmarked to give starts to the likes of Auston Trusty, Luke McCowan and Alex Valle. Meanwhile, a rest is afforded to the likes of Hatate, Johnson and Carter-Vickers.

Viljami Sinisalo

Anthony Ralston

Stephen Welsh

Auston Trusty

Alex Valle

Callum McGregor

Paulo Bernardo

Luke McCowan

James Forrest

Adam Idah

Luis Palma

Predicted Celtic XI vs Falkirk as Brendan Rodgers could make EIGHT changes

The Hoops boss is known for tweaking his team slightly but he could realistically make a whole host of replacements

Alex Valle could start for Celtic

Brendan Rodgers knew what he was doing when he brought in a handful of summer signings.

The Celtic boss was always planning to be as competitive in the Champions League as possible and after midweek results like their 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday evening, the need for a deep squad was obvious. It’s Falkirk in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tomorrow afternoon from Parkhead and the manager will likely make a number of changes from his Euro heroes.

The Bairns pose a different challenge to the Hoops but they’re in good form in the Championship with five wins from five under John McGlynn.

It’s unlikely Rodgers will change his entire XI given the opposition and the respect he’ll have to have for the Bairns. But Football Scotland reckons he’ll make a few…

Viljami Sinisalo

Is yet to pull on the jersey in a competitive fixture but in front of his home support in a cup game might be the best time. It’s usually when Scott Bain would get his chances last season.

Anthony Ralston

Alistair Johnston is a doubt with a niggle and Ralston is tried and trusted by the manager.

Auston Trusty

Might be a left-sided centre-half by trade but Rodgers might opt to rest Cameron Carter-Vickers and see how his countryman copes as his cover.

Liam Scales

Would be the experienced partner should CCV sit this one out and he’s riding the crest of a wave after his UCL goal.

Alex Valle

The Barcelona loanee could be given a run out after joining in the summer. Yet to make an appearance but this could be the moment, much like Sinisalo.

Manchester City ready to ramp up interest in Kyogo Furuhashi

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are interested in acquiring the services of Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi.

Manchester City are on the lookout for a new striker who can provide cover to Erling Haaland and Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi seems to be on the wishlist of the Premier League giants. According to a report from Fichajes, Pep Guardiola’s team are scouting the Japanese striker ahead of a potential transfer.

Furuhashi made a name for himself while playing for Vissel Kobe before making the move to the Scottish club in the summer of 2021. The 29-year-old has only gone from strength to strength since moving to Europe and his consistent performances in the final third have attracted a lot of attention.

The Japanese international has 75 goals and 16 assists in his 139 outings for Celtic. 24 of those goal contributions came last season and his performances seem to have put him on the radar of Manchester City.

Guardiola’s team parted ways with Julian Alvarez during the summer as the Argentine international joined Atletico Madrid in a big-money move. While they were keen on bringing in a like-for-like replacement, City could find one time.

Erling Haaland is the only out-and-out striker in their squad. As a result, the Spanish manager is desperate to bring in a backup option someone who can provide cover and allow their star striker to get some rest in what is going to be a very lengthy season.

City step up interest in Kyogo Furuhashi

They are interested in the services of Kyogo Furuhashi who was on their wishlist in the summer of 2023 as well. They did consider signing him back then but the move fell through. However, City seem to have reignited their interest in the Japanese ace.

They have stepped up their interest and asked their scouts to watch him in action in their recent UEFA Champions League game against Slovan Bratislava. The 29-year-old marked the occasion with a goal and City scouts who were in the stands would have surely taken note of his performance.

The Manchester-based club are keen on signing a new striker and Furuhashi’s name could be discussed in the City office when the window reopens. While he still has around three years left on his deal, Guardiola’s team have the financial strength to prise him away.

James Forrest wants Celtic stay NEXT season as Hoops legend labels current squad one of the best ever

The veteran Celtic winger wants to extend his time at the club and add to the 24 trophies he’s won in 15 years at Parkhead.

James Forrest says Celtic’s squad is one of the best he’s EVER been part of – and revealed he’s ready to sign up for another year under Brendan Rodgers.

The 33-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season but already has his eye on a new deal at Parkhead. Forrest is still a key player at Celtic and came off the bench in their thumping 5-1 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday night. Forrest, who has won an incredible 24 trophies over 15 years at Celtic, will feature in their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Falkirk today.

He reckons he hasn’t played in many better teams than the one Rodgers has now assembled. And the veteran winger is desperate to be a part of it for as long as possible. Asked if this is one of the strongest squads in his time at the club, Forrest said: “Aye, I think the manager has recruited well.

“He’s always talked about quality over quantity and he’s definitely got that now. You can see the players he’s signed have already made an impact. That’s great for the players who were already here. It’s good when players come in and really freshen it up. That’s what’s happened so far.

“For myself, the end of last season was really good, I really enjoyed my football. And I’ve enjoyed the start of this one as well. Obviously I’m getting older but I feel I’ve still got a part to play and I love it here. Being at Celtic, such a massive club – I’ve been here my whole career. I’d love to stay on and that will maybe come into the discussion at some point.”

James Forrest wants to stay beyond the summer

Forrest will be 34 at the start of next term but says he isn’t ready to hang up his boots yet. He might not be a regular starter for Rodgers but – as he proved in Europe in midweek – the Scotland wide man can still contribute as Celtic go for more silverware.

Forrest said: “I’ve started this season feeling good and I haven’t even thought about stopping, to be honest. I’m really enjoying playing just now.

“I’m looking forward to being involved in big games like the Champions League the other night. The squad has a really positive feel about it just now so I want to keep working hard and play in as many games as I can.”

Forrest hopes to earn new Celtic contract as winger ‘still loving it

‘

James Forrest has worked hard to get himself back into Brendan Rodgers’ plans (Image: SNS)

James Forrest played a pivotal role in Celtic securing a domestic double at the end of last season, now he’s determined to carry on that form with the hope of earning a contract extension.

Forrest has been on Celtic’s books for his entire professional career, making his first team debut as a fresh-faced teenager well over a decade ago.

His latest deal is set to expire at the end of the 2024-25 campaign. Manager Brendan Rodgers recently discussed Greg Taylor’s future with the Hoops full-back in a similar position. But for Forrest, whether or not he will be allowed the opportunity to wear a Celtic shirt for a 17th season remains to be seen.

“Aye,” the veteran winger simply said on his willingness to enter negotiations. “The end of last season was really good. It was a few months when I really enjoyed my football. I’ve been really enjoying the start of this season as well. Obviously I’m getting older but I really enjoy it.

“I feel as if I’ve still got a part to play and I still love it. Being at Celtic is such a massive club, I’ve been here my whole career. I’d love to stay on but that will maybe come into discussion at some point. I’m not sure when.”

At 33, some players might have retirement on they mind. However, Forrest is relishing being back playing a key role at Celtic, having accumulated seven appearances so far this season.

Asked if he still has the enthusiasm to play at the highest level, he replied: “Definitely. I got a good run at the end of last season, and I’ve started this season feeling good as well. I’ve not even thought about stopping to be honest. I’m just really enjoying playing just now.

Image: SNS Group)“As I said, you’re talking about next season but I’m honestly not really thinking about that. I’m just looking forward to being involved in the Champions League game the other night. The squad’s got a real good positive feeling towards it now. So I just want to keep working hard and being involved in as many games as I can.

“Maybe January or February at the start of the year I had a little think about it (retiring). But honestly, I’ve not really thought much about it since. I’ve been in football my full life and it’s always what I wanted to do.

“I think I’d definitely like to be involved in the game in some way. Maybe at some stage this season or next season, I don’t know when, I’ll think about it more. I would definitely like to stay in football. You get some players that you’ve played with that maybe don’t watch a lot of games.

“Sometimes it can be a job for them, but I love watching football and I love being in football. So I’d definitely like to still be involved somehow.”

It’s arguably the most competitive Celtic squad Forrest has experienced in his well-decorated career, yet he relishes his teammates driving each other to the incredibly high standards that their manager demands day in day out.

“I think the manager and the club’s recruited well,” he said. “The manager is always talking about you wanting quality over quantity. He’s definitely got that. You’ve seen in the players he’s signed already making their impact.

“I think that’s good for the players that are here and working hard here. I think it’s always good to get players to come in and freshen it up. That’s what’s happened so far. I think it’s just important that we all just keep working hard and keep looking forward.”

Forrest earned a long-overdue Scotland call up prior to Euro 2024 this summer, but was an unused substitutes in all three Group A matches at the tournament.

Steve Clarke named him in his squad for the UEFA Nations League games against Poland and Portugal earlier this month but the Celtic player withdrew alongside club teammate Taylor.

Despite that, he claims adding to his 39 caps is still very much on his agenda.

(Image: SNS Group)“I think the first and foremost and the most important thing is Celtic,” he explained. “I’ve always said that as well throughout my career. If you’re playing well for Celtic and you’re getting minutes there, then you can be involved in the national team.

“I think just concentrating on Celtic for the next few weeks and trying to do well there. If Scotland is still there, then I’d like to add to the caps as well.”

Forrest has become accustomed to European nights at Parkhead but Wednesday night’s 5-1 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava was absolutely massive for the club.

That three points on match day one has provided Celtic with an excellent start in their quest to reach the knock out stage of the competition, sitting nicely in second place from the 36-team league phase table.

“It was unbelievable,” he commented on the result. “I think we’ve had a really good start to the season. You can see all the boys are feeling confident. There have been some really good results and performances.

“The manager, a couple of days before the game when everyone knew the occasion was massive, he just wanted us to keep playing the way we had been in the league and the cup competitions we’d played in so far. I think you saw that on the night, that we took our performances into that. It was a great night.

“I think it’s amazing (the fans backing). I think every year you’re in the Champions League or Europa League, you’re playing in these European games, I think there are always really good atmospheres. I think the other night before the game it was electric.

“I think it was like that the full game. I remember at points in the second half, the atmosphere was bouncing. You saw everyone after the game. I think there was a real buzz at the stadium.

“I think that’s good that we’re up and running in the Champions League. We can focus now on the cup in Scotland and the league and we’ll get back to Dortmund in a couple of games’ time.”

Ex-Celtic ace Calvin Miller buzzing for Bairns blockbuster Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie

Falkirk winger Calvin Miller is returning a return to Celtic Park on Sunday (Photo: Michael Gillen)

Ahead of returning to Celtic Park this afternoon, Falkirk ace Calvin Miller has been recalling his time under Brendan Rodgers – and the “similarities” between the Hoops’ head coach and current gaffer John McGlynn.

Winger Miller, 26, made a handful of appearances for Celtic under Rodgers as a young player coming through the ranks, and he has been a key player for the Bairns since joining the club last summer before the League One title-winning campaign.

“It is really exciting,” he said. “I went there a couple of seasons ago with Morton. It is the same feeling now, I know a lot of boys. It is a bit of both, you want to go back and prove a point but you also just want to really enjoy it.

“It feels like I was there yesterday. Football flies in. You have to embrace every moment of your career and Sunday is one I’ll take in every moment of for sure.

Falkirk ace Calvin Miller training ahead of the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final tie (Photo: Michael Gillen)

“I know Anthony Ralston well. He might play. I was good pals with Mikey Johnston but he has just left. It will be nice to see the boys, the likes of Callum McGregor and James Forrest who have kicked on.

“It is most of the same staff too. It will be nice to have a chat with Brendan (Rodgers). He was the manager when I was coming through at Celtic. When I was coming through, it was a different situation for me.

“He had me playing in a defensive role technically as a left-back but with the way Celtic played it was basically me using my attacking football anyway. His teams always have like 80 per cent possession.

“It has come in handy as I have actually filled in at left-back for Falkirk a couple of times. I have learned so much since being there. Positionally and mentally.

“I see a lot of similarities (between Rodgers and McGlynn). The way we try to play is exactly how Celtic try to play. Fast, attacking football and high pressing. We base ourselves on what they do.”

And despite the odds being stacked against Falkirk, Miller says his team-mates aren’t heading to Glasgow to sit back and defend against the Scottish Premiership champions.

He added: “Celtic are something else. I was at the Champions League game the other night. They are in the best place possible but so are we. The gaffer (John McGlynn) won’t let us go there and sit back – we’ll give it our best shot.

“We are hoping that there might be chances to the team. They have rotation but who they bring in will still be right up with who normally starts. But you do hope for chances, an off-day, a big mistake.

“We will play our high press on Sunday. I have no doubt in that. Teams come to Celtic and play a low block and it doesn’t work anyway.

“We know we will be put under pressure at points. But we won’t just sit back and take it. We will try to play and be brave.”

Gary Lineker in ‘banging’ Celtic endorsement as Rangers star continues bromance with ace no longer at club

Gary Lineker has sang the praises of Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers after a resounding 5-1 victory against Slovan Bratislava in the Champions League. | Getty Images for Premier League

Celtic won a number of plaudits after an impressive 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava in Europe

Match of the Day host and England football legend Gary Lineker has claimed that Celtic have all the tools to advance to the knockout stage of this season’s Champions League.

The Scottish champions kicked off the competition with an emphatic 5-1 victory at home to Slovan Bratislava and were able to completely overpower the Slovakian side throughout the game as Liam Scales, Kyogo Furuhashi, Arne Engels, Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah all got on the scoresheet.

The result leaves Celtic in second position at the end of matchday one and crucially inside the top eight places – leaving the Hoops on course for knockout football.

Lineker was left hugely impressed with the manner of Celtic’s victory and believes Brendan Rodgers could finally be the man to lead them to the next stage of the tournament.

The ex-Leicester City and Barcelona forward signalled them out for praise on the Rest is Football podcast, he said: “Talking of exciting football and brilliant stuff, what about Celtic banging in five? Now you would say they’re going to play against teams they can beat and I would say probably one of the favourites to reach the play-offs this year.

“I’ll remind everyone again because the teams between 8th and 24th will play in the play-off games to join the top eight in the Champions League last 16. So it will be interesting to see.

“I think with this format, let’s wait and see and see how it pans out. The only downside to that is that there’s even more football for the players. But a brilliant win for Celtic and a fantastic start for them.”

Fellow pundit Micah Richards shared Lineker’s view and was also quick to praise Rodgers’ impact at Parkhead.

The ex-Manchester City star said: “You know what, everyone talks about this new Champions League format and no disrespect to Celtic, in previous years and recent history, they might have had an opportunity to win a game maybe in one of the later rounds [of the group stage].”

“It might not have been one of the greatest games, it was sort of like for pride. Can we finish third and get into the Europa League?”

Nico Raskin congratulates former teammate Abdallah Sima

Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin was one of the first to send former team mate Abdallah Sima a message of congratulations after he scored for Brest in their Champions League opener.

The Senegalese forward, who spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Ibrox, got on the scoresheet with a second-half strike as the French side ran out 2-1 winners over Sturm Graz on Thursday, leaving them 13th in the table at the end of matchday one.

Raskin, who begins his Europa League campaign with a trip to Malmo on Thursday, commented on Sima’s Instagram: “Simaaaaaaaaa” followed by a red heart emoji.”

Sima signed for Rangers on loan from Brighton last term and was a huge fan favourite after registering 16 goals and two assists in 39 appearances for the Light Blues.

 

Watch: Tomoki Iwata Scores Another Birmingham City Stunner

Former Celtic man Tomoki Iwata has scored another stunner for Birmingham City this afternoon.

Soccer Football – Scottish Premiership – Celtic v Kilmarnock – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – August 4, 2024 Celtic’s Tomoki Iwata during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

It comes after the Japanese midfielder opened his account for the club on Monday evening in a 3-1 win over Wrexham.

Iwata found the back of the net from range with a thorough strike and once again did so today.

His side are away to Rotherham United this afternoon, and the 27-year-old opened the scoring 14 minutes in with a fine finish which found the bottom corner:

ROTHERHAM 0 – BLUES 1 #BCFC #KRO#ROTBIR pic.twitter.com/E0FuIfnsoY

— CMF (@Ohffs1984) September 21, 2024

In English League One, Iwata is strolling it already, as many Celtic fans expected he would.

Many eyebrows were raised when the treble-winner departed the Hoops on transfer deadline day, but he wanted regular minutes.

Iwata wasn’t guaranteed games at Celtic this campaign, but in his year and a half with the Scottish Premiership champions, he was always a dependable squad player.

The former Yokohama F. Marinos man offered a more defensive option in the middle of the park, which few other midfielders could.

He got his move down south and is pleasingly flourishing. Birmingham will be aiming to go straight back up to the English Championship this term, and it looks as though Iwata’s form could be key to them doing so.

Many anticipated he would stroll it at St. Andrew’s, and so far, that has been exactly the case.

Devastating Celtic have Malmo on Europa League guard for Rangers clash as Swedes pick out 2 key Ibrox dangermen

Brazilian defender Gabriel Busanello expects a tough game against Philippe Clement’s side in their Europa League opener

Malmo’s Gabriel Busanello

Malmo ace Gabriel Busanello won’t underestimate Rangers – after being blown away by CELTIC in the Champions League.

The Brazilian defender expects a tough game against Philippe Clement’s side in their Europa League opener on Thursday night. Especially after he watched their Old Firm rivals batter Slovan Bratislava 5-1 in midweek. But Busanello says the Swedes aren’t scared of Rangers as they look to pick up three points on home soil and get their Euro campaign off to a flyer.

The Malmo left-back said: “We’re playing in our home stadium so our objective is always to win. Or at the very least in this competition, you have to avoid defeat. Rangers are a huge club with so much history and some excellent players. They will be a difficult opponent for us but we don’t fear them. It’s a level game but we want to own the match from the start.

“Of course, Scottish football has improved in the last few years. You never get an easy game against a Scottish team. A clear example of that was the Champions League match this week involving Celtic. That showed us that we’ll have a hard game against Rangers and we’ll need to fight for the three points. Our challenge is to win and then follow our dream, which is to reach the next phase of the Europa League.

“The new format in the competitions means you must have success at home. Getting three points on Thursday will be crucial to where we finish in the table. Any error at home will be very damaging to our chances so we can’t fail against Rangers.”

Busanello picked out Ibrox pair Jack Butland and Oscar Cortes as key players for Clement’s side before Gers’ trip to Scandinavia. The 25-year-old expects a tight game but believes Henrik Rydstrom’s men can nick it at the Eleda Stadion.

He said: “We have watched Rangers play and I know Butland is an excellent keeper. The Colombian, Cortes, is also a very dangerous player. Rangers are a solid team and we’ll have to battle very hard.

“But we are strong defensively and good in midfield. I don’t see many goals in this game so the key for us will be not conceding and then hopefully profiting with chances.”

Clive Tyldesley said something about Celtic live on Rangers TV and fans ‘warned’ him never to say it again

He was the in-house commentator for the Steven Gerrard unbeaten title winning season

Clive Tyldesley on Rangers TV duty

Clive Tyldesley has opened up on the Celtic lesson he learned from his Rangers TV stint – after a fan made one thing clear over the Parkhead side.

He was the man who took on in-house commentating of the Light Blues during the 2020/21 campaign. With the coronavirus pandemic at a high, fans had to tune in via club channels to watch games with no fans permitted in stadiums. That campaign turned out to be a historic one for the club after they went the Scottish Premiership campaign unbeaten under Steven Gerrard and ended Celtic’s hopes of claiming ten-in-a-row in the process.

Tyldesley admits it was a wonderful 18-month adventure he had while working for the Ibrox side – but he did get corrected over a key lesson when working for one of the big two in Glasgow. He spoke about providing an update over the Celtic score from a game and happened to refer to them as the ‘The Hoops’. It prompted a reaction from one supporter with the commentator remembering the exact wording of his warning.

He told Four Four Two: “Rangers really wanted me – they’d done a deal to provide free coverage of all of their home games for their season ticket holders until they could go back into the stadium. I was fortunate that Rangers won every game I commentated on, I think! They went through the season unbeaten and my voice became associated with a very famous Rangers season.

“It became a wonderful 18-month adventure… although I learned that I didn’t know Glasgow football quite as well as I thought. In a commentary I try to find a different way of saying the same thing, and I was talking about a Celtic match that was happening at the same time as Rangers were playing.

“I had given the score as Celtic this, Celtic that, and I happened to say, ‘The Hoops have now gone three up’. I got so much mail from Rangers fans, all quite sympathetic, but there was an element of warning… One guy said, ‘They are either Celtic, or they are ‘them’.’ So from that point on, Celtic were Celtic – don’t call them something that sounds affectionate!”

Why Luke McCowan Can’t Feature For Celtic Tomorrow

After making history in the UEFA Champions League midweek, Celtic return to domestic action tomorrow as they welcome Falkirk to Parkhead in the Scottish league cup.

Soccer Football – Champions League – Celtic v Slovan Bratislava – Celtic Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain – September 18, 2024 Celtic’s Liam Scales shakes hands with Slovan Bratislava’s Marko Tolic after the match REUTERS/Russell Cheyne

The Bairns come to Glasgow’s east end in formidable form, but the Bhoys are equally in fine fettle, having won every competitive game they’ve played this term.

Tomorrow, Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is expected to make a fair few changes to his starting 11 which put Slovan Bratislava to the sword on Wednesday night.

The likes of Anthony Ralston, Alex Valle, Auston Trusty, and Paulo Bernardo could all come into the team for the quarter-final clash, but Luke McCowan is ineligible to play.

The midfielder scored his first goal for the Scottish Premiership champions last Saturday against Hearts but won’t feature in tomorrow’s league cup match.

Indeed, because he turned out for his old club, Dundee, against Airdrie in the previous round of the competition, the 26-year-old is cup-tied and thus unable to play for the Celts on Sunday.

Fans would have been excited to see McCowan make his first start for the Hoops, but they will have to wait.

The game against Falkirk would have been the ideal opportunity to throw the midfielder into the starting lineup, but it is not to be.

 

Celtic fans will be treated to a TV double-header on Sunday after Premier Sports announced a full afternoon of Hoops action.

Brendan Rodgers’ side face Falkirk in a Scottish League Cup clash that kicks off at 3pm, broadcast live by the tournament sponsors.

It’s a chance to book their place in a Hampden semi-final and continue their quest to reclaim the trophy after last season’s disappointment against Kilmarnock.

Following Wednesday night’s dream Champions League start there’s a beautiful feeling around the club and fans – heading to the stadium or watching on from home – can’t wait to see the team back on the pitch.

The European fun continues this weekend, too, and Celtic FC Women break new ground by taking part in their first ever Women’s Champions League second-round match.

Celtic FC Women get live TV slot for Champions League match

Before that League Cup kick-off at Celtic Park, the women’s side take on Ukrainian champions Vorskla Poltava in the first leg of their knockout tie and Premier Sports have bought the rights to broadcast.

The fixture kicks off at 12pm and will be live directly before the men’s game on Premier Sports 1.

We’re excited to bring you live coverage of Celtic’s UEFA Women’s Champions League 2nd Round Qualifier this Sunday! 🍀🙌

Tune in from 12pm, with the Premier Sports Cup Quarter Final between Celtic and Falkirk following on Premier Sports 1 from 2.30pm 📺 pic.twitter.com/NdUIytLkty

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 19, 2024

Vorskla don’t have massive amounts of European experience, like Celtic, and the draw could have been far worse for the Ghirls. Benfica, Roma and Slavia Prague were among the potential opponents.

They have a really great opportunity to make it into the group stage of the tournament and take part in some big matches against the continent’s elite.

With both legs also taking place in Scotland, Elena Sadiku and her team are relishing the chance to make more history.

Kelly Clark inspired by Brendan Rodgers’ side

Speaking ahead of the match, captain Kelly Clark said: “I always speak about my time at the club and watching the guys do things and how much it makes you want to do it.

“I’ve watched them play in the Champions League, and I’ve listened to that roar when the Champions League anthem comes on. You crave doing it yourself.

“I know every fan craves doing it but the reality is I’m actually in a position that I can do it. It means everything. It’s a competition that is a genuine reminder that you are the Champions of your league.

“It’s nice to play in anyway because we did something well last season. To mix with the best teams in Europe is huge. I will need to talk myself out of the emotions before Sunday so it doesn’t affect my performance and I can be the calming influence I need to be on the girls.”

Luke McCowan is proving himself to be a shrewd acquisition for Celtic, with the new midfielder earning high praise from team insiders for his immediate impact in training.

28th April 2024; Dens Park, Dundee, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Dundee versus Celtic; Luke McCowan of Dundee tackles Kyogo Furuhashi of Celtic

He already has a goal under his belt, and impressed fans with his few appearances so far. He’ll likely get a chance from the start against Falkirk on Sunday.

Despite the spotlight on Arne Engels as the marquee midfield signing this season, McCowan, who arrived from Dundee on deadline day for £1 million, has quickly shown his mettle.

Tony Watt, a former Celtic striker, shared insights on The Warm Up podcast about McCowan’s integration into the team.

According to Watt, feedback from both Dundee colleagues and current Celtic players is overwhelmingly positive, noting that McCowan does not seem out of place at all at Lennoxtown.

He said:  “I’ve heard a lot of good things. A lot of boys from Dundee are saying he’ll go there and do well. And whoever I’ve spoken to that’s trained with him since signing says he doesn’t look out of place.”

A player like McCowan is essential to have in. As cliche as the saying is, he gets it. Having someone with his experience in the league, and knows what is required to play for Celtic is great to have for some of the younger and more inexperienced players who will walk through the door.

He’s not going to start week in and week out, but he’s already shown from off the bench and shown that he can make an impact.

Celtic’s thrashing of Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday night delighted supporters and made waves around Europe.

The Bhoys are sitting second in the 36-team Champions League table after matchday one, behind Bayern Munich on goal difference after their 9-2 result against Dinamo Zagreb.

Added to a perfect start to the domestic season – winning six from six – Celtic are one of the hottest teams on the continent right now.

And that’s being reflected by stats company Opta, who now have Brendan Rodgers’ outfit as one of the 60 best in the entire world.

Where Celtic compare to the best teams in the world

The Opta algorithm analyses results from over 2,500,000 matches since 1990 to assign a rating from 1 to 100 for each team that is comparable across leagues, countries, and continents.

Celtic have moved up five places in a week to 56th in the table with a rating of 85.4, ahead of English Premier League sides such as Fulham, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.

From Scotland, Rangers are the next closest team but sit way down in 120th.

Demonstrating the progress that Celtic have made in the last 12 months, this time last year Rodgers’ side were languishing in 95th, 39 places below their current ranking.

The manager has Celtic trending in the right direction and there’s a feeling that the team can improve even further over the coming months.

The strength of Celtic’s Champions League opponents

Celtic have seven remaining opponents in this phase of the Champions League phase and this is where they rank in Opta’s table, with their ratings in brackets.

Borussia Dortmund – 10th (93.3)

RB Leipzig – 13th (92.7)

Atalanta – 14th (91.9)

Aston Villa – 33rd (88.4)

Club Brugge – 51st (86.0)

Dinamo Zagreb – 75th (84.4)

Young Boys – 165th (80.3)

The upcoming gauntlet of Dortmund, Atalanta and Leipzig are the toughest tests for Rodgers’ side but, after winning on matchday one, Celtic will still be in the hunt for progression even if all three are lost.

It’s interesting to note that Young Boys sit so low. They visit Celtic Park on 22nd January and the Bhoys will be looking at that as a key opportunity to pick up a win.

Club Brugge at home will be a competitive, but winnable fixture, while there should be no fear travelling away to Dinamo Zagreb.

Celtic will have a 69% chance of reaching the top 24 knockouts if nine points are attained but that jumps to a 99% probability with ten points.

Every point is so crucial so anything that can be nicked on the road or at home to Leipzig could have a massive say in how the tournament pants out for the Bhoys

Luke McCowan impact impresses Celtic insiders, Brendan Rodgers heard giving ‘secrets’ away – Parkhead news bulletin

McCowan has taken to life at Lennoxtown like a duck to water

Luke McCowan hasn’t looked ‘out of place’ at Celtic training – with insiders impressed with what they’ve seen from the new midfielder so far.

That’s according to Motherwell striker Tony Watt who says he’s spoken to people who have trained with him since the move and they’ve had nothing but good things to say. Arne Engels was undoubtedly the Hoops’ marquee midfield signing but Dundee’s player of the season McCowan was picked up on deadline day in a £1m move.

A boyhood Celtic fan, he’s got off the bench in their two Premiership games since and even found the back of the net against Hearts. He could be rewarded with a start in the Premier Sports Cup against Falkirk this weekend and, according to former Celtic hitman Watt – who is still pals with some of the stars at Parkhead stretching back to his three years there – his teammates are impressed.

Speaking on the SPFL’s The Warm Up podcast, he said: “I’ve heard a lot of good things. A lot of boys from Dundee are saying he’ll go there and do well. And whoever I’ve spoken to that’s trained with him since signing says he doesn’t look out of place.”

He was joined on the podcast by former Hoops defender John Hughes, who reckons Brendan Rodgers gave some state secrets away at a recent press conference. The ex Falkirk, Hibs and Inverness boss watched their win over Hearts for the BBC. And he said: “I listened to his interview and he gave a few secrets away. I was thinking ‘keep them to yourself.’ It was about the work they did in pre-season, no excuses when you lose the ball in the final third. Get back within five seconds. You can see that, high energy, constantly.

John Hughes and Tony Watt on ‘The Warm Up’ podcast

“Remember last season when the balls were going out, they were coming straight back in. Free-kicks, get it down, play. They’re constantly on the front foot. Against Hearts, they needed the second goal, but they didn’t get it until Hearts went 4-4-2 and he put the flair players on.

“I was watching it thinking ‘Celtic are going to score here’ and they did. Even on the turnover, two or three passes, and there’s a chance.”

The secret to their hard work, Watt thinks, is the depth Rodgers has available – which means he can work players to the bone without having to be too concerned about injuries. He added: “I think managers get scared to work the players too hard, because when you work them hard, you get injuries. You need to accept that, but a lot of managers, especially at the lower clubs, don’t have the budget to get players in to have replacements for the boys who get injured. But Celtic do it well, they’ve gone and signed McCowan, spent money on Idah to come in for Kyogo.

“They’ve got two top, top players in every position. So he can work them to their max, and if he gets a couple of muscle injuries, he can just get on with it and pick them up again.”

That depth is expected to be utilised for the visit of the Bairns this weekend. Chris Sutton wrote in his Record Sport column on Saturday that he expects to see changes from the side who downed Slovan Bratislava during the week – even if they can’t quite afford to take Falkirk lightly amid an incredible run of form.

The Hoops’ opponents went undefeated in League One last season and have started their return to the Championship with five wins out of five, putting Hearts out the cup to get this far. Sutton wrote: “I’d expect Rodgers to rotate against Falkirk tomorrow. He can’t underestimate a side that is in great form in the Championship and who have already put Hearts out of the Premier Sports Cup.

“But you’d think this is a chance for Auston Trusty to get minutes, along with Adam Idah, Paulo Bernardo and Alex Valle. It’s already talking about strength in depth but what that means is the momentum doesn’t drop when the names on the team sheet change. Celtic’s squad will be tested in the coming weeks. They had the A team out the other night but there will be times when someone is injured or suspended and Rodgers will need to shuffle his pack.

“The players coming in need to prove they are more than capable of slotting in and doing a similar job. Celtic ripped up the usual Champions League script the other night – but they need to stick to it on the home front, even if the main characters change.”

Celtic don’t often sign first-team players directly from other Scottish Premiership sides so Luke McCowan’s arrival in the summer transfer window took some by surprise.

At 26, McCowan had only ever played for Ayr United and Dundee, not possessing the experience profile you usually get from new Celtic signings.

That’s not to say he didn’t earn his big move. There can be snobbery about domestic transfers but McCowan was a stand-out in the top flight last season – scoring ten goals and assisting five more.

There’s intrigue about what he can offer Celtic over time and the early signs are good. Not only is he impressing fans – netting his first goal last week against Hearts – but behind the scenes he is fitting in well, too.

Luke McCowan not ‘out of place’ at Celtic

Former Celtic striker Tony Watt says people he’s spoken to at the Bhoys since McCowan’s arrival have given him the thumbs up.

He said [The Warm Up]: “I’ve heard a lot of good things. A lot of boys from Dundee are saying he’ll go there and do well. And whoever I’ve spoken to that’s trained with him since signing says he doesn’t look out of place.”

Watt thinks McCowan’s transfer is one of those that shows Brendan Rodgers now has real depth at his disposal which will help Celtic massively as the season progresses.

He continued: “I think managers get scared to work the players too hard, because when you work them hard, you get injuries.

“You need to accept that, but a lot of managers, especially at the lower clubs, don’t have the budget to get players in to have replacements for the boys who get injured. But Celtic do it well, they’ve gone and signed McCowan, spent money on Idah to come in for Kyogo.

“They’ve got two top, top players in every position. So he can work them to their max, and if he gets a couple of muscle injuries, he can just get on with it and pick them up again.”

McCowan could make first Celtic start soon

It’s clear that, with Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and Arne Engels ahead of him, McCowan will primarily play a depth role this year. But he will make starts too.

That first time in the Bhoys eleven could come as early as Sunday against Falkirk in the Scottish League Cup.

Rodgers mentioned his team are carrying a few ‘niggles’ after the hard work put in against Slovan Bratislava and McCowan has the ability to come in and perform against the Championship side.

He’s already shown he is not overawed by the Celtic experience, so let’s see how he can take control of a game as a starter.

Chris Sutton has been assessing the current strength of Celtic after watching the Bhoys in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Brendan Rodgers’ side picked up their ever group stage victory in the tournament with a 5-1 win over Slovan Bratislava, starting this year’s edition in style.

The manager has his team playing with belief and confidence. Every player looks ready to give everything, from veteran stalwarts to new signings, for the Celtic cause.

New Bhoys Arne Engels was one of the standouts – named in one stat website’s team of the week – and Sutton reckons that Celtic have found themselves a bargain despite his record £11m fee.

Chris Sutton lauds new Celtic arrival Arne Engels

The former striker said [Daily Record]: “The Belgian’s display just proved Rodgers was right to push the boat out to get him. In fact, any scouts or spies in the stands or tuning in would have looked at Engels and felt £11m was a bargain.

“It is in European terms. The likes of Brentford spent £30m on Igor Thiago, Ipswich Town spent double the cost of Engels on Omari Hutchinson. Celtic spent a lot in comparison to Bratislava – but it’s still chicken feed compared to the likes of Borussia Dortmund.

“It’s obvious Engels is a player though. He’s got ability on the ball and he’s got tremendous physicality.

“He’s barely in the door and looks like he’s been in with the bricks for ages. For the first time in donkeys, Celtic even look a threat from corner kicks with him on dead balls.

“It’s early days and he’s still got to be developed, but he already looks like he’s the perfect fit for Celtic’s model of buying prospects and getting the best out of them before big money offers come calling.

“Let’s not wish him away just yet though. Engels is a young guy and while he’s shown he’s got terrific temperament with those penalties, there will be a time when his form dips a touch.”

The numbers behind all-action Arne Engels display

Engels plays with a maturity beyond his 21 years and has an impressive Celtic readiness after just his second start.

He stepped up to the elite level on Wednesday night and stood out as one of the best players on the pitch.

Winning nine of his 13 duels, four of his six tackles and completing seven defensive actions, it’s clear he can cope with a physical battle.

On the ball he had a 92% pass completion rate, creating two chances, one of which was the assist for Liam Scales’ powered header.

As mentioned by Sutton, set-pieces look to be a strength and his composure when slotting home the penalty was fantastic to witness.

Box-to-box, he looks to be the player Celtic needed to replace Matt O’Riley and he is just getting started.

Celtic’s Maeda ‘best in world at pressing defenders’

Daizen Maeda (right) was picked out for praise by Joe Hart on Wednesday

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says he doubts “there’s anyone better in world football” at pressing defenders than Daizen Maeda.

The 26-year-old Japan forward was picked out for praise on Champions League Match of the Day by former team-mate Joe Hart for “setting the tone” during Wednesday’s 5-1 demolition of Slovan Bratislava.

And Rodgers knows his front players deserve a slice of credit for the concession of only two goals in seven matches – all victories – this season.

“That’s where the game starts,” he said. “I’ve seen reports in terms of the team doing very well, keeping clean sheets and the goalkeeper and the back four.

“It starts at the front. And I would doubt there’s anyone better in world football than Daizen Maeda in that context.”

What do Celtic need to progress in Champions League?

Rodgers hails Celtic’s ‘greed, hunger and mentality’

Rodgers highlighted a clip from BBC Sport’s Champions League highlights programme including a Maeda challenge that thwarted a Slovan counter-attack.

The Japan attacker tracked the right-back before the play was switched to one of the visitors’ centre-backs, then he pressed him and won the ball.

“It’s the will and desire to do it, which most players won’t have,” the manager added.

“He could have easily dropped that press. He didn’t have to do that one. He actually got to the centre-half before the guy that should have got there.

“It’s incredible – it’s unbelievable pressing. But that’s mentality.”

The ‘vindication’ for Celtic board unlocked by £30m move pinpointed by Brendan Rodgers

Rodgers’ dished out credit for the opening victory of the league phase a big-spending summer window

Arne Engels celebrates (Image: Getty Images)

Brendan Rodgers says Celtic’s thrilling Champions League start vindicates the club’s summer splurge.

The Parkhead manager was proud with his team’s sensational opening to the Euro campaign and 5-1 hammering of Slovan Bratislava. Rodgers believes everyone associated with Celtic could feel huge satisfaction. He said: “I think the other night was a great vindication for everyone. I think for the board and the money they’ve spent, they will have enjoyed hopefully watching the team.

“The supporters, watching the game, seeing the verve in the team, the dynamism, everything they’d want and attacking football and representing them. And then the players themselves on the pitch, doing a brilliant job, fighting for the team, fighting for the club and producing great football, which is the demand. So I think everyone was vindicated.”

Rodgers had called for quality signings and spoke about bravery in the transfer market at the close of the January window. Club chiefs answered the call during the summer with the likes of £11million Arne Engels and £9million Adam Idah snared.

Both scored against Slovan as the entire team hit heights, but asked if his statement had proved any point to a certain extent, he said: “No, I didn’t prove a point. I think it was just a case of the board done great. You know, they got the players in and I said right the way through the window, I know what we wanted and we all wanted the same thing.

“And, by the end of the window, if we got the players that we could bring in that could help us, then it would be a great achievement by all. Then eventually we did that. And now you see when you have that calibre of player in, what it can do.

“Now, £11million or £1.5million, I will always look to develop and improve a player, whatever price that is, or what’s a young player coming through the academy. But looking at this particular group coming in last year and then having worked with them and then seeing how we want to progress, there was certain characteristics that I felt that we needed.

“And it’s basically known in the back of the mind that there’s a possibility of, say, Matt [O’Riley] going, not only are you losing goals, are you losing presence, you’re losing a set-piece expert because he was very good on those. So knowing that Arne fitted all that profile, then that’s why we were keen to get him in and help us

EA FC 25 review: Celtic and Rangers upgrades will have fans Rush-ing for more

New features have been added as well as facial scans for Glasgow’s big two

EA FC 25 has some fresh changes while other elements stay very much the same

It’s that time of the year again when footie-mad gamers get their hands on the latest edition of EA Sports FC.

But anyone expecting a revolutionary overhaul will have to wait another year, at least. It’s early days but initial impressions are that gameplay seems similar to FC24, with a few adjustments. Pace remains king, passing requires more precision and shooting seems a lot smoother.

There are a bunch of extra animations which makes the game feel that bit more realistic but the biggest new feature is without a doubt FC IQ, adding a completely new layer to managing your team’s tactics.

It’s almost like EA have taken a leaf out of Football Manager 2024’s book, giving you room to create your own tactics and playstyles. There’s a greater emphasis on player roles, which will have a major impact on Ultimate Team as those unfamiliar with their positions lose their potency – just like real life.

For gamers who want their teams to adopt Angeball, there’s also the easy option of copying tactics from world-class managers like Ange Postecoglou and Pep Guardiola.

As for Ultimate Team, Rush is a fun new small-sided game mode that allows you to team up with friends or strangers for a scrappy 5 vs 5 battle. It’s almost a throwback to playing football after school; headless chickens running around in an adrenaline-filled six-minute match. Credit to EA for listening to community feedback on this one, especially as it’s integrated throughout Career Mode to help improve youth prospects.

Speaking of which, the arrival of Women’s Career Mode is also a timely and refreshing upgrade. There’s also the addition of ICON Player Career Mode, allowing you to control some of the greatest names in football like David Beckham and Ronaldinho.

It’s been a long time coming, but Celtic and Rangers face scans have finally arrived, making Old Firm games a much more authentic experience. Full pre-match intros are back too, along with some new exterior shots of Celtic Park and Ibrox in the build-up to kick-off. Sadly though, crowd chants have been neglected once again this year and Hoops fans will need to put up with You’ll Never Walk Alone being belted out for the entire 90 minutes, a horrendously irritating glitch. Come on EA, sort it out so we can unmute our TVs!

Overall, there haven’t been drastic changes to FC 25. Aspects of the gameplay have been fine-tuned but it’s the additions of FC IQ and Rush that really justify forking out for this year’s instalment.

Verdict: 4/5

Frustrated Reo Hatate throws lingering Celtic narrative in the bin as midfielder names his new top priority

The Japan international was dealt a blow earlier this month

Disappointed Reo Hatate has conceded he was “frustrated” to be snubbed by Japan despite his latest international call-up.

But the Celtic star has insisted it far from a waste of time despite travelling over 5000 miles to his homeland and failing to make the bench for either clashes with China and Bahrain. Manager Hajime Moriyasu called up 27 players for the World Cup qualifying double header but was only able to name 23 in the matchday squads.

Hatate missed out on both occasions – leaving some Hoops’ fans to criticise the pointless journey in the midst of the start to the Premiership with the Champions League campaign around the corner. However, the midfielder doesn’t buy into that theory – insisting the disappointment on the trip only encourages him to be better for the Scottish champions. Writing for Sportiva, he said: “I would be lying if I said I did not have regrets about the recent Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

“Japan played China at home on September 5 and Bahrain away on September 10, and although I was selected for the national team, I was unable to make the 23-man squad for both games. I had been in good condition since pre-season and had scored a goal and assisted a goal for Celtic since the start of the league season, so I was confident that I could play an active role when I stepped on the pitch.

“I was also frustrated and disappointed that I had to watch the game from the outside after traveling such a long distance from Glasgow. I believe that this is a natural feeling for any player, and without that frustration, there would be no growth and development for me.

“It is the coach who decides who will participate in the match, and it is also the coach’s authority. That is an area that I, as a player, have no control over.

STEPHEN McGOWAN: Celtic must buy more stars like Engels if they are to keep Rangers on outside looking in

In 2018, the chairman of Rangers was Dave King. A man who could bandy words with the Dalai Lama, King was adept at lobbing verbal grenades towards the east end of Glasgow. These days he prefers to throw them at the people running his old club.

Six years have passed since King predicted that Celtic would fold like a pack of cards if Rangers won a league title. When they finally did it in 2021, those words blew up in his face like a stick of dynamite in a Looney Tunes cartoon.

While King spent this week firing out media barbs at the Ibrox investors he once led — challenging the lot of them to a square go — Celtic put the finishing touches to a set of financial figures showing a profit of £13.4million, an annual revenue of £124.6m and cash reserves of £77.2m. If that’s the cards tumbling down, you’d hate to see them with a winning hand.

The first Scottish outfit in history to spend £30m and finish a transfer window in profit, the Parkhead club are raking in more cash than Sue Gray and their conspicuous wealth creates a problem Rangers would kill for. How do they spend their £100m?

In the excitement of a 5-1 rout over Slovan Bratislava, barely anyone noticed that Celtic had just banked another £1.8m to add to the £40m already coming their way. For Rangers to earn another £1.8m in the Europa League, they’d need to win five of their eight fixtures. Hearts would need to win all six of their games in the Europa Conference League.

Champions League football and player trading means Celtic are now in a financial league of their own. How they use the cash will dictate how long they keep Rangers in a state of internal turmoil. Or how long they prevent a Hearts and Tony Bloom player-data tie-up from disrupting the status quo.

Arne Engels’ performance against Slovan Bratislava showed why he cost Celtic a record fee  .

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers urged the club to be more courageous in the transfer market.

Dave King predicted that Celtic would fold like a pack of cards if Rangers won the league title.

Football’s obsession with financial sustainability doesn’t help. UEFA will restrict player and coach wages, transfers and agents fees this season to 80 per cent of a club’s annual revenue plus their average player trading profit from the last three years. Next season, the figure drops to 70 per cent.

Even then, 70 per cent of what Celtic earn will be significantly more than 70 per cent of what Rangers rake in. Especially when the sales of Calvin Bassey, Joe Aribo and Nathan Patterson drop off the three-year radar.

To exploit their financial advantage, the Parkhead club will now take fewer punts on £2m projects.

There isn’t much wrong with a strategy of signing players aged between 19 and 24 with international recognition and affordable wages. Poor execution was always the issue, Brendan Rodgers urging the club to push the boat out and show a bit more courage.

Capitalism in its purest form, the Champions League is a billionaires’ playground where you get what you pay for.

And the performance of £11m record signing Arne Engels against Slovan Bratislava reinforced a conviction that Celtic should now be spending a bigger chunk of their budget on the Odsonne Edouards and Jeremie Frimpongs of this world and less on players like Alexandro Bernabei and Gustaf Lagerbielke.

If Scotland’s automatic slot in the Champions League goes the same way as Marco Tilio, a few more Arne Engels around the place would provide insurance for a rainy day.

To call themselves a Champions League club, Celtic don’t just need to recruit like one. Sooner or later, they’ll need to build like one as well.

First impressions count. And, once they’ve spent that £20m on modernising their Barrowfield training ground, the board will need to come up with some kind of plan to replace a crumbling main stand built for heroes from a bygone age.

When Europe’s finest players leave their bus on Champions League nights they approach a 1980s facade and pass through a set of flimsy glass doors locked on windy days to stop them flying off the hinges.

They pass some faux leather sofas in a modest reception area while foreign journalists climb the stairs to nibble on packs of Walker’s shortbread in a cramped media room past its sell-by date.

And every time they do, Celtic’s claims to be a Champions League club feel as flimsy as the glorified wedding marquee erected in the car park for post-match interviews.

A feasibility study into the cost of a new main stand was carried out in 2022 and found that a new structure would cost £100m. Significantly more now.

Chief executive Michael Nicholson blamed ‘limited financial capital’ for the failure to start building back then.

Yet, by the time the Matt O’Riley and Champions League cash comes in, Celtic will find themselves starring in their own sequel to the Richard Pryor movie, Brewster’s Millions. Pots and pots of money and no obvious plan to spend it.

 If the SPFL aren’t taking the League Cup seriously, why should anyone else?

The League Cup has become the old vase on an ageing auntie’s mantelpiece that no one wants to throw in the local skip.

It barely matters whether it’s sponsored by Viaplay, Premier Sports, Carabao or Viagra.

The lead is missing from the pencil and there’s no way of putting it back.

Big clubs devalue the product by playing fringe players. There’s no European place up for grabs at the end. Outwith a day of glory for St Mirren or Kilmarnock once in a blue moon, its only value derives from a domestic Treble for Celtic or Rangers.

If the SPFL insist on ploughing on, using the competition to bring in buttons from obscure broadcasters, the very least they could do is ensure a fair playing field.

When it comes to the use of VAR in the Premier Sports Cup, there should be no middle ground. Either they use it in all games or none at all. Allowing Premiership clubs like Motherwell and Aberdeen to opt out of utilising it in a quarter-final to save themselves £15k is an affront to sporting integrity.

While SPFL rules allow two of this weekend’s four quarter-finals to go ahead with no VAR, the English Football League places a higher value on sporting fairness.

In last season’s Carabao Cup, VAR wasn’t used in the semi-finals because Championship Middlesbrough had no video technology equipment in place at the Riverside Stadium.

While Liverpool had the full shooting match in place at Anfield, both last-four matches went without because England recognises that you can’t have justice for some and no justice for others.

The country which takes VAR — and integrity — seriously ensures that every game in the same competition is refereed to the highest possible standard.

Anything else is a flawed, half-baked two-tier system of officialdom.

Fresh Jota nightmare, spiky Kvistgaarden transfer address and forgotten £15m payday resurfaces – Celtic news bulletin

It has been a busy week for Brendan Rodgers and the Scottish champions

Winger Jota has suffered another career blow after leaving Celtic after picking up an injury at new club Stade Rennes.

The 24-year-old finally ended his nightmare spell in the Saudi Pro League last summer – just 12 months on from a £25m exit move away from Glasgow’s east end. He barely featured for Al-Ittihad having been dropped from the foreign player list almost instantly – and is attempted to kickstart his career with the Ligue 1 side.

However, he now faces a spell on the sidelines after just two appearances off the bench for the French side. Going into the clash with Lens on Saturday, boss Julian Stephan conceded he couldn’t put a timeline on when the 25-year-old would be back in action: “Jota may be too weak for this weekend. He has a muscle issue and we are on alert. It remains to be seen when he is back.”

While the Portuguese player is in the past for Celtic fans, one man who appeared to be on the cards as a future arrival was Mathias Kvistgaarden. The Brondby star has been on the Parkhead agenda over the last year – but a deal has failed to materialise.

And the 22-year-old appears to be unhappy – hinting that bids had come in last summer but the asking price by the Danes was too high. Asked by Viaplay about the prospect of an exit, the forward said: “Of course there has been something, but now I’m here at the club.

Brondby’s Mathias Kvistgaarden

“What you read on the internet is not always 100 percent true, but it is no secret that at one point or another I dream of going outside of Denmark. It didn’t happen in this window, but as you can see – I think – in the way I react on the pitch, I don’t think it’s something I’m struggling too much with in my head.

Asked if he was disappointed an offer had not been accepted, he went on: “Yes. There is no doubt of that, as I said, I dreams of it (playing outside of Denmark) one day. But once again I am pulling the Brondby shirt over my head and fighting for the fans and my teammates – those are the two I fight for.”

Scotland star sends league upstarts top of table as Il Toro flourish under former Rangers defender

Striker grabs winner in eventful win over Verona

Scotland striker Che Adams continued his strong start to his new life in Italy, coming on as a substitute as Torino defeated Verona 3-2 to move provisionally top of Serie A.

Adams made the switch to Turin during the summer after his contract with Southampton expired in the summer and after netting for the first time in Il Toro colours last month against Atalanta, he came on to score what proved to be the winner in a dramatic match Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi.

After starting last weekend’s 0-0 draw against Lecce, Adams dropped to the bench for this match, but manager Paolo Vanoli – a former Rangers defender – was vindicated in his decision, with both forwards Antonia Sanabria and Duvan Zapata netting in an eventful first half either side of Grigoris Kastanos’ goal for Verona. The hosts ended the first 45 minutes with ten men after Pawel Dawidowicz was sent off.

Adams came on for Sanabria on 67 minutes and netted 12 minutes later, drilling home a loose ball into the bottom corner. And while Daniel Mosquera netted in stoppage-time for the hosts to ensure a nervy ending, Torino held on for all three points.

Still unbeaten across all competitions this season, Torino go into the weekend as top dogs in Serie A. However, Napoli can reclaim pole position on Saturday should they win at home against Napoli. Adams’ Scotland team-mates Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour are expected to be involved and could make their home debuts.

 

Celtic’s performance against Bratislava catches ex-England stars eye

There’s a ray of positivity and expectation in the Celtic camp this season (Image: PA)

Former England striker Gary Lineker has heaped praise on Celtic, labelling them as one of the top contenders to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Celtic kicked off their league phase campaign in impressive fashion, securing a commanding 5-1 victory over Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday.

Following this dominant performance, Lineker is optimistic about the Scottish Premiership champions’ prospects in Europe this season.

With the tournament’s revamped format allowing the top 24 teams to enter the play-off rounds for a chance to reach the last-16, Lineker’s enthusiasm for Celtic’s potential is palpable after witnessing their dominant display against the Slovakian side.

“Talking of exciting football and brilliant stuff, what about Celtic banging in five?,” Lineker said on The Rest is Football Podcast.

“Now you would say they’re going to play against teams they can beat and I would say probably one of the favourites to reach the play-offs this year.

“I’ll remind everyone again because the teams between 8th and 24th will play in the play-off games to join the top eight in the Champions League last 16. So it will be interesting to see.

“I think with this format, let’s wait and see and see how it pans out. The only downside to that is that there’s even more football for the players.

“But a brilliant win for Celtic and a fantastic start for them.”

Fellow pundit Micah Richards then commented suggesting that Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic may have a better opportunity than ever to be a success at Europe’s top table.

“You know what, everyone talks about this new Champions League format and no disrespect to Celtic, in previous years and recent history, they might have had an opportunity to win a game maybe in one of the later rounds [of the group stage],” he explained.

“It might not have been one of the greatest games, it was sort of like for pride. Can we finish third and get into the Europa League?”

Could Celtic Star Kyogo Furuhashi Provide Manchester City’s Next Attacking Option?

Manchester City’s Interest in Kyogo Furuhashi: A Strategic Move to Bolster Attack

Manchester City’s hunt for further attacking reinforcements has led them to Celtic’s in-form striker, Kyogo Furuhashi. After the summer exit of Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid, City’s squad depth in attack has become an area of concern. While Erling Haaland continues to dominate in front of goal, Pep Guardiola appears eager to add another dimension to his attack, and Furuhashi is firmly in his sights.

According to a report by HITC, City have had scouts observing Furuhashi at Celtic Park, indicating a long-standing interest in the Japanese forward. “City had scouts in the crowd at Celtic Park, which is also reporting that they’ve held an interest in the player for a number of years.”

Furuhashi’s ability to consistently find the back of the net for Celtic since joining in 2021 has made him an attractive option for City, with the Japanese international scoring 75 goals in 134 appearances. With a goal in Celtic’s 5-1 Champions League victory over Slovan Bratislava, he continues to show why top clubs, including City, are keeping a close eye on him.

Filling the Gap Left by Alvarez

City’s departure of Julian Alvarez left Guardiola without a clear backup for Haaland, and while the Norwegian striker’s form has been sensational, the team’s heavy reliance on him has been apparent. Haaland has already netted nine league goals this season, and with an unprecedented fifth consecutive Premier League title within reach, City cannot afford to become too dependent on one player.

The lack of additional goal-scorers is a concern. Beyond Haaland, only three other players have found the net this season, and Haaland struggled against Inter Milan in the opening Champions League fixture, a match that saw City held to a frustrating draw. Reinforcements are not just desirable but necessary, and Furuhashi could provide that alternative option.

According to HITC, City’s long-standing interest in Furuhashi may now evolve into serious pursuit. The Japanese forward could add versatility and goal-scoring prowess to City’s squad, a valuable asset given the rigours of competing on multiple fronts, including the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups.

Furuhashi’s Potential Premier League Impact

Should Furuhashi make the move to Manchester, he would join a notable list of Japanese players who have plied their trade in the Premier League. The likes of Shinji Kagawa at Manchester United, Shinji Okazaki at Leicester City (a Premier League winner in 2015/16), and Kaoru Mitoma at Brighton have already established Japan’s presence in English football.

Furuhashi’s success in Scotland suggests he has the tools to succeed in the English top flight. Known for his pace, intelligent movement, and clinical finishing, he could offer a different dynamic to City’s attack. His ability to play across the front line would give Guardiola tactical flexibility, while his goal-scoring record speaks for itself.

If Furuhashi were to make the jump to Manchester City, he would not only be following in the footsteps of other Japanese stars but could elevate himself to a new level, competing in one of the world’s most competitive leagues.

City’s Transfer Strategy

It’s clear that Manchester City are not just focusing on short-term goals. The recent signing of Brazilian winger Savio and the impending arrival of Claudio Echeverri from River Plate point to a longer-term strategy, where City are carefully building for the future. While Haaland continues to lead the line, and the club’s financial muscle allows them to pursue big names, they are also showing an interest in acquiring younger talent with potential.

Furuhashi, at 29, may not fit the ‘young star’ profile, but his form and experience would make him an ideal fit for a club looking to maintain its dominance at the highest level. With City competing for honours on multiple fronts, depth in the squad is key, and Guardiola is unlikely to turn down the chance to add a proven goal-scorer to his ranks.

However, City’s transfer plans don’t end with Furuhashi. Rodri, arguably City’s most important midfielder, is reportedly on Real Madrid’s radar, while Kevin De Bruyne’s future remains uncertain as his contract nears its end. City have identified Xavi Simons as a potential replacement for De Bruyne, a sign that the club is planning for life beyond some of their current stars.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

Kyogo Furuhashi’s potential arrival would be an exciting prospect. City supporters have witnessed Haaland’s brilliance week in and week out, but it’s clear that relying solely on him for goals is risky. Furuhashi could be the ideal backup or even partner for Haaland, providing Guardiola with more attacking options when rotating the squad.

City fans will also be intrigued by the club’s long-term strategy. While Haaland continues to grab the headlines, the potential acquisitions of players like Furuhashi, and the focus on younger talents such as Savio and Echeverri, suggest that Guardiola is building a team not just for today, but for the future.

It’s always a challenge for clubs like Manchester City to balance immediate success with long-term planning, but their recruitment strategy indicates that they are positioning themselves to remain at the top of English and European football for years to come. Whether Furuhashi joins or not, City fans can be confident that the club’s recruitment team, led by Guardiola, will continue to identify the right players to maintain their dominance.

As for Furuhashi, his track record at Celtic makes him an exciting proposition for City fans. His work rate, technical ability, and eye for goal could prove invaluable, especially as the team looks to maintain its competitiveness across all competitions. Should the Japanese star move to the Etihad, he will have the opportunity to further his career at the highest level, and City fans will no doubt welcome him with open arms.

Brendan Rodgers in surprise Celtic rave review of ‘brilliant’ former star who played just 5 Hoops games

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers | SNS Group

Celtic are in cup action against Falkirk this weekend.

Brendan Rodgers has provided a Celtic flashback to his first stint in charge by singing the praises of a rarely-seen former player.

Calvin Miller made just five appearances for the senior Celtic side after coming through the academy, but he has been the centre of praise from his ex-gaffer. Now with Falkirk, the Bairns take on the Premiership champions this weekend on Premier Sports Cup quarter-final business.

The left-back has shone for John McGlynn’s side, who won League One while going unbeaten in the third tier, and their Championship return has yet to come with defeat. When asked about whether Falkirk’s unbeaten run makes them stronger to play against, he pointed out some things he liked about McGlynn’s team, including a shout-out for Miller.

Rodgers said: “It tells you everything about the mentality they have. They’ve been on an incredible run and gone through not losing a game in the league and bringing that up to the Championship, doing so well, it tells you that they have really good characters in there.

“Guys who John trusts. I know even recently they’ve had a few results that look like being a draw and then they end up winning. So that tells you everything about the mentality in the squad.

“I know the likes of Calvin Miller who is there. Calvin was a brilliant young player for me. Didn’t quite kick on, he was keen to get out and play. But I really liked his game. He was quick, direct, left-sided, he’s playing more off the right now and cutting inside. When he was here, I really liked his qualities and they have players on either side that are dangerous players up front.