Honduras manager points finger at Celtic’s Luis Palma after Nations League collapse vs Mexico

Luis Palma was the man of the moment for Honduras last week as the Celtic winger scored twice to sink Mexico in the CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final.

The 2-0 lead gave Palma’s Honduras a great chance of progressing to meet Alistair Johnston’s Canada in the semi-final after the Celtic winger was deadly against Mexico in the first leg.

Coming on as a substitute in that match, Palma scored with his first touch to put Honduras 1-0 up and then sealed the win with a late second goal to give Honduras a healthy advantage for the follow-up match in the Estadio Azteca.

However, after holding out for 42 minutes, Raul Jimenez opened the scoring before a late collapse saw Honduras concede a further three goals after Henry Martin (72 & 90+7) and Jorge Sanchez (85) sunk Palma and his teammates for the second year in a row.

Luis Palma’s lack of Celtic game time exposed for Honduras vs Mexico

After praising Palma for his first-leg Honduras performance, boss Reinaldo Rueda pointed the finger at the Celtic winger after he was exposed by the Mexicans as the weak link in the early morning defeat.

Rueda told Deportes TVC, “For all we know from the previous match at the Azteca, the altitude is hard for Luis when he comes with rhythm and today without rhythm it was going to be harder for him.

“He played a good half but the full-back he had overcame him and he was left alone with Rosales and that’s where Mexico attacked us a lot.

“We had Obregón, who is a striker, a goal scorer, and to stop that full-back and the offensive depth to accompany Yustin Arboleda, but unfortunately he didn’t get into the game and was unbalanced.”

Luis Palma’s Honduras stats have a familiar Celtic feel to them

Palma was hooked at halftime after being given the nod to start for Honduras against Mexico.

Rated at 6.2 by Fotmob, the Celtic winger was largely anonymous in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch.

With just 13 touches of the ball, Palma made just four passes with three of those finding a Honduran teammate.

However, defensively Palma won five duels, made one clearance and won two out of two tackles as he tried to keep the Mexicans at bay.

Unfortunately, the Celtic winger didn’t create any chances or had any shots on goal as Honduras crashed out of the CONCACAF Nations League at the same stage to the same team for the second season in a row.

Journalist Gives Update on Lennon Miller Situation Amid Celtic Interest

Mark Guidi has weighed in on the mounting speculation surrounding Motherwell’s young sensation, Lennon Miller, predicting a January move to Celtic for the highly-rated midfielder.

27th October 2024; Fir Park, Motherwell, Scotland; Scottish Premiership Football, Motherwell versus Celtic; Lennon Miller of Motherwell shoots on goal

Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Guidi detailed the significant interest in the 18-year-old from top clubs across Europe, but believes Celtic are best positioned to secure his signature.

Miller has been a standout performer in the Scottish Premiership, and with just 18 months remaining on his contract, Motherwell face a pivotal decision. Guidi suggests that a fee of £3-3.5 million, with potential add-ons, would represent a strong deal for the Steelmen while fitting comfortably within Celtic’s transfer strategy.

“I’m sure there is interest from Italy because they do their homework; they now scour this market, Mark Guidi told Go Radio.

“I know 100% there’s interest from Germany and Spain and obviously down south.

“I’ve no doubt that Celtic and Rangers will have registered an interest, I’ve no doubt about that. I’ve got a feeling he will end up at Celtic; I think he’s definitely going to go in January, and I think he’ll be sold in January because for Motherwell, he’s hot, and he might get hotter, but you need to be careful you don’t run the risk with 18 months on his deal.

“If they’ve got a concrete guaranteed £3 million-£3.5 million with the potential for a couple of million in add-ons here and there, Motherwell have got to take that. They’ve got to; Celtic can afford that kind of fee all day long. For me, longer-term, getting someone like Lennon Miller the way he looks just now, I think £3 million to £3.5 million with add-ons would be a bargain.

“Right now if you’re asking me, I said it on Thursday night, he’s going to have four or five really good options in January, I think he’ll end up at Celtic.”

If a January move materialises, the teenager would join an already impressive group of players making their mark under Brendan Rodgers.

However, Celtic’s midfield is already stacked. Summer signing Luke McCowan is struggling for minutes despite impressing since his arrival. Reo Hatate and Arne Engels seem to have the position locked down at the moment, with McGregor sitting behind them.

It could be an option for Celtic to sign the player and then loan him out so that he can continue his development and growth while still playing consistent minutes at a high level.

It will be interesting to see what Celtic do in regards to their interest in January.

‘I Couldn’t Have Imagined’ – Star Indicates Why Summer Celtic Move Didn’t Happen

Switzerland and Lorient goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo has indicated that the need to pay a transfer fee put Celtic and other clubs off signing him in over the summer transfer window.

Celtic needed to bring in a new goalkeeper in the summer after the retirement of Joe Hart and eventually ended up signing Kasper Schmeichel.

Swiss shot-stopper Mvogo was keen to move on from French side Lorient following their relegation from Ligue 1 and a host of sides were keen, including Manchester United.

No move happened though and the goalkeeper stayed at Lorient beyond the closure of the transfer window.

Celtic were linked with wanting Mvogo and the Switzerland international indicated that no move happened because clubs, including the Bhoys, did not want to pay a fee and he was under contract with Lorient.

“Yes, there were a lot of offers”, Mvogo told Swiss daily Blick when asked directly about offers from Celtic, Parma and Augsburg.

“They all came relatively early. At that point, I wanted to take my time with the decision.

“I couldn’t have imagined how difficult the market would be during the summer.

“Many clubs wanted free goalkeepers or ones that could be loaned out.

“But I had a contract with Lorient, which meant a transfer fee would have been due.”

Despite refusing to pay a transfer fee for the Swiss goalkeeper, the Bhoys ended up paying a club-record fee to sign Arne Engels from Augsburg.

Their work was made easier by the departure of Matt O’Riley to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Michael Stewart loved ‘incredible’ moment from Rangers ace this week as Celtic hero hails international class

The Rangers star has been praised by the outspoken pundit and a Celtic favourite.

Michael Stewart and a Celtic hero have been quick to praise a Rangers star after their colossal Scotland contributions.

John Souttar made big blocks and crossed brilliantly to set up the winner in a 2-1 win over Poland. It means Scotland avoid Nations League A Group 1 relegation and will have a play-off to fight for their survival in 2025.

Stewart was on commentary duty for Viaplay and was piling on the praise for Souttar, who’s become a key player at the back for national team head coach Steve Clarke. Upon a block made by the defender in the opening stages of the second half, the pundit said “John Souttar, what a block that is. That is quite incredible.”

Then on his match-winning cross, where he lifted a brilliant ball for Andy Robertson to head home, Stewart added: “What a ball from John Souttar. Another outstanding performance from the defender. What a header, what a goal, look at this ball from Souttar! Incredible stuff.”

John Collins was also quick to jump on the Souttar hype train, and hailed the Rangers star with one key word. Collins signed for Celtic in 1990, and was the club’s first million pound player. The midfielder went on to score 55 goals in 273 Celtic appearances. He added on Sportsound: “John Souttar looks like an international centre-back now.

“Clarke’s change of system has brought more freedom. The players look more comfortable in possession and they have more options in front of them. To win the game in that manner is the perfect end to the campaign.”

The international break always brings out some weird and wonderful content for the Celtic fans and they also get to know a bit about players they might not previously have known.

For example, earlier today 67 Hail Hail discussed how Alistair Johnston said tennis icon Roger Federer’s career reminds him of the pressures of playing for Celtic.

The Hoops defender was speaking about his sporting hero as he said the amount of travelling and pressure to always win that Federer had reminds has ‘correlations’ of Celtic about it.

And now, Johnston has shared how Celtic winger James Forrest made a claim about Scottish tennis legend, Andy Murray after the Celtic defender said he’s one of the best tennis players in the Hoops squad.

Celtic hero James Forrest claims he could ‘have replaced’ Andy Murray on the tennis circuit

Johnston told The Official Celtic FC Podcast [11m], “Apparently James Forrest, he always tells me that I hope with some tongue and cheek, that he thinks that he could have broken into the big four.

“He could have replaced Andy Murray if he’d stuck to tennis. And I said, ‘I’m not sure there’s too many top tennis players in the world of the height of five foot eight’. But actually, I think about [Diego] Schwarzman.

“But other than that, no, there’s not really a lot of small tennis players. So I take that with a pinch of salt. He always tries to bring that one up.

“It winds me up a little bit. It’s hard for me not to nibble on that one. But yeah, I’d like to think I’m one of the best ones on the team.

“Yeah, I’d say my level’s okay.”

The four Celtic appearances where James Forrest has been ace this season

Forrest has made 16 appearances for Celtic so far this season and whilst the legendary winger has contributed in all his outings, there are four standout fixtures where he has made a material difference.

Celtic 5 v 1 Slovan Bratislava. Coming on as a second half substitute, Forrest created the assist for Adam Idah’s goal.

Hibs 0 v 2 Celtic. Forrest creates Nicolas Kuhn’s opening goal in the 2-0 win in the captial.

St Mirren 0 v 3 Celtic. Once again James Forrest creates Celtic’s opening goal with an assist for Callum McGregor.

Celtic 2 v 0 Hearts: The Celtic winger creates Celtic’s second to wrap up three precious league points.

So whilst Forrest hasn’t been prolific in the goalscoring stakes, his contribution to the team in big games when it matters has been so crucial for Brendan Rodgers this season.

Elena Sadiku makes Celtic red card vow after mocking gesture in Rangers defeat

The Swede saw red on Sunday for sarcastic applause after she had already been booked by referee Jamie Wilkie following the award of a Rangers penalty

Celtic manager Elena Sadiku has said that her red card against Rangers on Sunday is the “first and last” of her managerial career.

The Swede was dismissed for sarcastic applause after she had already been booked by referee Jamie Wilkie following the award of a Rangers penalty. It consigned Sadiku to the stand for the remainder of a game that Celtic went on to lose. “It was the first. And my last,” she said. “I would like to not speak about it. It is what it was and it is not how I want to be perceived. I am never going to do it again.”

Sadiku has also insisted that she has not had to lift her players since Sunday’s defeat. They face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night as their mad schedule of games continues. And she believes the weekend defeat will act as motivation for the players to prove themselves.

“I think losing against Rangers and the way we did, I don’t think we felt that we were a bad team or anything like that,” she said. “It became the opposite. We became even more hungry and confident – I didn’t need to pick them up and the players are ready for this challenge now.”

Celtic are without a point in the Champions League so far following defeats to Twente, Real Madrid and Chelsea. The 2-1 defeat against the London club last week at Celtic Park has offered some encouragement to Sadiku.

“We have been growing into the competition,” she said. “Playing the way we did against Chelsea the last time will encourage us even more.

“What the players have learned the most has been to be braver in possession and that is something that we want to do again tonight. We will see how Chelsea line up but I think we know what to expect from them. But we want to do better and that is up to us.

“I know that Sonia [Bompastor] was not really happy with the performance in the last game and we were the happier of the teams. Chelsea will want to show what a good team they are.

“I think they may change some players and may change their shape. We are expecting a Chelsea side who want to prove that they are much better than us and obviously we are going to have the same mindset to produce another good performance.”

Rangers blow as £1.8m EBT recipient delivers great news for Celtic

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

You might remember Christian Nerlinger. He signed for Rangers from Borussia Dortmund in 2001 and stayed at Ibrox for three years, collecting an (ultimately unlawful) EBT payment of £1.8m from Sir(!) David Murray, presumably alongside his side-letter that never was disclosed to the Scottish FA…

David Murray (L). (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

16.09.2003 Photo: imago/Ulmer Stefan Klos and Christian Nerlinger (Glasgow Rangers); Champions League 2003/2004, Glasgow Rangers, Photo Randmotiv Personen

These days Christian Nerlinger is a football agent

These days Christian Nerlinger is a football agent and Celtic star Nicolas Kuhn is one of his prized assets or clients. Nerlinger has been speaking to Daily Record about the player amid speculation linking him with a big money move as one of the European football’s top performers this season, not only domestically but also in the Champions League.

Kuhn’s form has also attracted the attention of the Germany national team manager Julian Nagelsmann who this week admitted that the Celtic winger is very much on his radar.  For Nerlinger any speculation in not an issue and he predicts that in time Celtic will turn their £3m investment in Nicolas Kuhn back in January when he was signed from Rapid Vienna, into a £25m plus fee for the club’s latest hottest asset.

Nicolas Kuhn at Rugby Park. Photo Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

“We have found a home for Nicolas at Celtic”

“The speculation is not an issue for us. We have found a home for Nicolas at Celtic,” Nicolas Kuhn’s agent Christian Nerlinger said. “We are not, never, walking out on Celtic without being together with the club because this success story was created by Celtic.

“I know from my time at Rangers it was very hard to get something out of the television rights, so, of course, they need to find these success stories – identify a player, buy him for £3million and sell him for £20-£25million – but we will do everything together with the club.

“We are very grateful for how Brendan Rodgers developed the player,” Nerlinger said.

Nicolas Kuhn runs with the ball under pressure from Amadou Haidara of RB Leipzig during the UEFA Champions League match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“Nicolas feels the power of this club”

“Nicolas feels the power of this club. I was in the stadium against RB Leipzig and you see the quality of the team. I know that Nicolas has total confidence in Brendan Rodgers in developing him and making him a better player, and for me as a business partner I have total trust in Michael (Nicholson, Celtic CEO) so we will take this step by step.

“Perhaps at some point there will be movement, but we will not pressurise things. It’s a massive season and we are really relaxed. We are just happy that Nicolas is at the right point, at the right time with the right manager who develops him. We are really grateful for that.

Nicolas Kuhn celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25  match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

“We are more than happy with him at Celtic”

“It’s a good team. He is enjoying the philosophy of the manager and is enjoying Glasgow. We are enjoying the kind of things that are happening with Celtic and for me he is just at the right point with the right people He feels totally comfortable.

“We are more than happy with him at Celtic but we will always work and cooperate with Celtic about what is the next step. It’s a very exciting time.”

Celtic in the Thirties by Matt Corr, Volumes One & Two, Published by Celtic Star Books, November 2024.

Matt Corr’s wonderful new books, Celtic in the Thirties, Volumes One & Two are both out now on Celtic Star Books and you can order a signed copies by clicking on the links below…

Nicolas Kühn’s agent breaks silence on winger’s future amid Premier League links

Nicolas Kuhn of Celtic celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Celtic FC and RB Leipzig at Celtic Park on November 05, 2024.

Nicolas Kühn is loving life at Celtic and is not looking to leave any time soon, according to his agent Christian Nerlinger. Fulham and Brentford have recently been touted as being interested with the 24-year-old’s signature as he impresses for Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic side.

The ex-Rangers midfielder told Record Sport that Kühn has found a home at Celtic and that he will only depart when it suits both parties.

“The speculation is not an issue for us. We have found a home for Nicolas at Celtic.

Nicolas Kuhn at Rugby Park.  Vagelis Georgariou for The Celtic Star

“We are not, never, walking out on Celtic without being together with the club because this success story was created by Celtic.

“I know from my time at Rangers it was very hard to get something out of the television rights, so of course they need to find these success stories – identify a player, buy him for £3million and sell him for £20-£25million – but we will do everything together with the club.”

After signing from Rapid Vienna back in January, Kühn took some time to adapt but really hit the ground running this season. The German has scored ten goals and assisted on eleven occasions in all competitions, including a brace against RB Leipzig.

Kühn was identified and signed by Celtic as one of Europe’s top creators, fitting the profile as being a youthful attacker with promising room for development.

Kühn was recently name checked by Julian Naglesmann as a potential future call up for the German National Team.

“Kuhn is also a good player with a lot of desire. He’s someone we’re keeping an eye on.

A call up would be astonishing for Kühn and it would be affirming for his efforts so far this season. Moreover, it would reflect that Celtic can attract, develop and retain top talents.

As another SPFL club heads for administration, the SFA continues to allow the Ibrox side to trade whilst insolvent. Imagine if it was Celtic?

Only a few short weeks ago, despite the best efforts of the club’s supporters, Inverness Caledonian Thistle entered into administration.

As a result, many people, including the manager, lost their jobs.

They were also hit with a 15 point deduction.

Which resulted in them plummeting to the bottom of League 1.

Today, they have been replaced at the bottom of League 1 by Dumbarton FC.

Dumbarton is one of Scotland’s oldest clubs, and has been trading continuously since 1872.

This morning, it was announced that they have also entered administration.

Their points deduction has pushed them below ICT as it has completely wiped out their tally for the 2024/25 season to date.

Late yesterday evening, the Record reported that Dumbarton were likely to enter administration.

That was followed by a report in the Sun this afternoon, confirming the news that administration was a certainty.

It’s deeply concerning that two clubs in the SPFL have entered into administration in such a short space of time.

Yet despite what has happened to Dumbarton, nobody bats an eyelid when the Ibrox club reports losses exceeding £17 million.

That’s all fine and dandy.

One rule for them, but the SFA applies the letter of the law to every other club in Scottish football.

Now, in a normal footballing landscape, you would think that a club that has recorded losses in the hundreds of millions would be taken to task by their football association, wouldn’t you?

As clubs elsewhere in the Scottish League pyramid struggle with miniscule debts in comparison, are hit with points deductions, and all the sanctions that go with entering into administration.

But no, it’s fine for the Ibrox operation to trade whilst insolvent.

Because there’s no other description for that kind of reckless behaviour.

Shouldn’t the SFA be asking themselves why clubs like Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Dumbarton are struggling the way that they are?

Are they not concerned that the very existence of one of Scotland’s oldest footballing institutions is under threat?

Remember how massively concerned they were when another club founded in 1872 went to the wall 12 years ago?

Despite their best efforts, they couldn’t save that club either.

The question is, why are clubs like Dumbarton and ICT going to the wall?

Is it down to bad governance at club level?

Or is it down to bad governance at the SFA’s level?

Well, I suppose if you allow a convicted criminal to pass a fit and proper person test to become the chairman of a football club, then that gives you an indication of what goes on in the halls of the SFA.

The simple fact is that two SPFL clubs have gone into administration within weeks of each other.

That’s not a good look for Scottish football.

Nor is it a good look that one club is allowed to post tens of millions in losses.

While all of the rest try to work within the constraints of the rulebook.

How many more clubs are going to go to the wall before someone in the SFA steps up and asks what the hell is going on?

I’ll put it this way, just imagine if Celtic were operating as recklessly as the Ibrox club?

Do you think that we would be allowed to do so without facing any kind of sanctions?

Think again, I’d say.

The SFA would use every rule in the book to make an example of us.

We are blessed to have excellent corporate governance at Celtic Park.

And I know I call out the board more than most when I feel they can do better.

But I cannot flaw the way our club operates in comparison to the basket case across the city.

There is no comparison.

And thankfully, because of that, we’ll never come close to a situation like the one we found ourselves in on a cold and bitter January day in 1994.

It makes you wonder though, how long will it be before the Ibrox club is in that kind of position again?

Will they get their act together?

Or will they go all Gung-ho and bring Steven Gerrard back if Clement leaves for Belgium, as I alluded to in this morning’s article?

We all know that Gerrard is a chequebook manager.

We also know they’re in the kind of financial position they’re in now as a result of his previous spending.

With each passing day, the idea of Gerrard returning to Ibrox grows on me more and more.

They think he’s the answer to all of their problems over there.

When in fact, he could be the one cause of even more.

Oh please, oh please, bring him home.

That said, spare a thought for the supporters of Dumbarton on this dark day.

They definitely deserve our sympathy.

Celtic’s future transfer endeavours have received airtime over the international break and Lennon Miller has cropped up as a name to watch out for.

Continuing his superb form for Motherwell this term, the 18-year-old has registered four goals and three assists in 18 appearances across all competitions.

In light of his rise as one of the most exciting talents in the Scottish Premiership, there is no surprise that Celtic have become a player in the race for Lennon Miller as his deal at Fir Park ticks down.

According to reports last week, Celtic will need to pay £4 million to land Miller as suitors start to circle for his signature. Rangers are admirers, and Liverpool could also enter the picture.

With his future the talk of Scottish football, Mark Guidi has shed some further light on what is an evolving situation.

Mark Guidi shares Lennon Miller latest amid Celtic speculation

Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, Guidi has shared that he ‘100%’ knows that there will be interest from Germany and Spain in Miller, though he expects the Scotland Under-21 international to end up at Celtic.

He stated: “I’m sure there is interest from Italy because they do their homework; they now scour this market. I know 100% there’s interest from Germany and Spain and obviously down south.

“I’ve no doubt that Celtic and Rangers will have registered an interest, I’ve no doubt about that. I’ve got a feeling he will end up at Celtic; I think he’s definitely going to go in January, and I think he’ll be sold in January because for Motherwell, he’s hot, and he might get hotter, but you need to be careful you don’t run the risk with 18 months on his deal.

“If they’ve got a concrete guaranteed £3 million-£3.5 million with the potential for a couple of million in add-ons here and there, Motherwell have got to take that. They’ve got to; Celtic can afford that kind of fee all day long. For me, longer-term, getting someone like Lennon Miller the way he looks just now, I think £3 million to £3.5 million with add-ons would be a bargain.

“Right now if you’re asking me, I said it on Thursday night, he’s going to have four or five really good options in January, I think he’ll end up at Celtic.”

Lennon Miller would fit Celtic’s long-term vision

In the short-term, it would be hard to envisage Miller getting in front of the likes of Callum McGregor or Reo Hatate at Celtic, but looking to the future has to be an optimal stance for the Bhoys.

The club captain isn’t getting any younger despite his glowing performances this term, while potential transfer movement in the opposite direction could occur at some point further down the line.

Having the next star ready-made and in position to step in has to be the priority for Celtic, and Miller certainly fits that bill with the added carrot of being a homegrown talent.

Speculation surrounding his next move will continue to heat up over the next few months, so his situation is worth keeping an eye on for supporters.

Player admits that he spoke to Celtic this summer – “Was very sad” he couldn’t get transfer

Switzerland goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo has admitted he spoke to Celtic in the summer, before eventually remaining at FC Lorient.

Blick have an interview with the goalkeeper this week in which he discusses the various transfer options which he had on the table this summer, and those options included Celtic.

The 30-year-old found himself in an awkward position with the French side after they were relegated from Ligue 1 at the end of last season.

He made it clear he would like to depart and had offers on the table, with reports putting Celtic firmly in the mix for him.

They were said to have positioned themselves at the beginning of May, with reports after that claiming he had accepted an offer to join Brendan Rodgers’ side.

That was later denied, although interestingly in the same week that Celtic completed the signing of Kasper Schmeichel on a free transfer from RSC Anderlecht.

That removed their need for a new number one and a move for Mvogo, who eventually ended up staying at Lorient for this season.

He’s more than happy to admit there was an offer from Celtic, though, with Blick asking him directly about the Scottish champions, Parma and Augsburg.

“I’ll be honest, I was very sad about how things turned out,” he said.

“It wasn’t an easy time. I wanted to leave Lorient after relegation so that I could continue to compete and prove myself at the highest possible level. I knew it could be problematic if I played in the second division.

“Yes, there were a lot of offers. They all came relatively early. At this point I wanted to take some time with the decision. I had no idea how difficult the market would be during the summer.

“Many clubs then wanted free transfer goalies or those who could be borrowed. But I had a contract with Lorient, so a transfer fee would have been due.”

And that is perhaps why he didn’t end up at Celtic.

Kasper Schmeichel has become an almost instant fan favourite at Celtic after the Denmark international was signed to replace Joe Hart in the summer.

As one of 13 Celtic players currently on international duty, Schmeichel produced a wonder performance last night as the Hoops ‘keeper helped Denmark create history and qualify from the Nations League after a 0-0 draw with Serbia.

But it seems that Schmeichel is not without his critics in his homeland but after the Celtic star’s heroics for Denmark against Serbia, former professional players Mads Junker and David Nielsen have leapt to the defence of the 39-year-old after hearing what has been said about him recently.

Denmark can ‘count on’ Celtic ‘keeper Kasper Schmeichel after heroics vs Serbia in Nations League

Junker was capped for Denmark seven times between 2006-12 and played for Brondby, Vitesse Arnhem and Mechelen.

And when he heard people question whether or not Schmeichel should continue to be Denmark’s number one, Junker dismissed moved quickly to dismiss that opinion of the Celtic goalkeeper.

Junker told Sport TV2, ” I still don’t think there is anything to indicate that Schmeichel should not be our first goalkeeper. He comes into action early when he has an early save on Andrija Živković at the post.

“There is also one from Dusan Vlahović. I think that time and time again he shows the security that is needed down there. We can count on him to take the balls he has to take.

“There are a lot of finishes of them against Serbia that he always takes, so it’s hard to say it’s a dazzling game from Kasper Schmeichel. But he takes what comes.”

Kasper Schmeichel ‘so important’ to Denmark as Celtic hero impresses vs Serbia in Nations League

David Nielsen never managed to earn a full international cap for Denmark despite appearing 50 times from the U16-U21 level.

His playing career stretched from almost 20 years playing in Sweden, England and Denmark coupled with a 13-year career in management and even he wasn’t having any of the ‘ridiculous’ chat about the Celtic goalkeeper.

Nielsen added, “It is too ridiculous that we have to stand and spend time discussing who should be in the goal for Denmark.

“It will be Kasper who will be standing. As long as he is fit, he will be our goalkeeper, and he will be until the World Cup in 2026. Then we don’t have to ask about it anymore. I’ve seen our team stand with a different goalkeeper once, and we didn’t look like ourselves.

“He is so important to have standing down there in relation to communication. The fact that we can change that backline and that they succeed, it’s because there is someone down there and communicating.

“And no one hears or talks about that afterwards. But his communication and the way he is in his body language, it helps these players to play the game, and when you as a back line make a clean sheet, you don’t do that without a good goalkeeper.”

With the Nations League quarter-finals set to take place in March next year, if Schmeichel continues his impressive form for Celtic both domestically and in the Champions League it would be very difficult for anyone in Denmark to deny him the No 1 international jersey

Everyone and anyone seems to have had their say on how serious Aberdeen’s challenge is.

Are they in a title race with Celtic? Or is second all they can realistically achieve? Can they even do that?

There seems to have been a range of opinions between all three of these points as a series of former players and pundits give their take.

For Pittodrie boss Jimmy Thelin not of that matters right now as he tries to ensure his players and staff simply focus on the job at hand.

12 May 1990: Brian Irvine of Aberdeen celebrates after he scores the winning penalty during the Scottish Cup Final against Celtic at Hampden Park …

Aberdeen can compete with Celtic

Brian Irvine knows all about going head to head with the clubs from Glasgow in the red of Aberdeen.

A cup double-winning centre half with the Dons in the early 90s, Irvine scored the winning penalty in a shootout victory over the Hoops to seal the second part of that, the Scottish Cup.

He also finished runner up in the Scottish top flight with the club five times, so knows all about ‘splitting the Old Firm’.

But he insists it is very difficult to predict what will happen with the current squad after their flying unbeaten start to the season. He does think the question over whether they can do what he did and split the Glasgow clubs is already redundant though.

Speaking exclusively to Not the Old Firm, the ex-Pittodrie defender said: “I don’t know what they’ll do. I think the main thing is just to enjoy while the team are doing well.

“Celtic are obviously a good team and they’re not going to suddenly become a bad team. There is competition there with Aberdeen with the two teams right up clear of Rangers. I think the question ‘can we split the Old Firm’… we’ve done that already.

“Rangers have got too big a gap to catch up overnight with us, so we’ve split them. Whether we’ve got enough to win the league time will tell, but just enjoy it while things are going well.”

Aberdeen managed a 2-2 away draw against the champions in the league already this season but the next time they met they were crushed 6-0 at Hampden in a Premier Sports Cup semi-final.

That obviously has no bearing on league prospects but Irvine answered whether it could have a psychological impact.

“The next game against Celtic will be a test,” he said. “It will be at Pittodrie which is a bonus. The team can play well at Pittodrie which is a fortress this season.

“Celtic are a really good team and you can’t take that away from them but you’ve got to compete and without a doubt we can compete.

“The next game being at Pittodrie gives us a really good chance to react to that defeat. Even though it was a heavy defeat there was no difference from a 1-0 defeat, you’re still out the cup.

“So there was no damage to the league position and it was just a cup knockout in the semi-final, which was no disgrace. When it gets to that stage it’s just who does well on the day.

“I know in my experience, I think we lost 5-0 once at Parkhead and in the next game without a doubt it’s in the back of your mind.”

Three key Aberdeen players

Irvine still does some ambassadorial work for Aberdeen and gets along to plenty of the games.

Like all of the Red Army, he has been enjoying watching the team play this season.

But he has picked out three who will be key to their ongoing prospects.

Asked if there were any standouts, he said: “Yeah, the goalkeeper (Dimitar Mitov).

“He’s made crucial penalty saves which…the Ross County one was a three-pointer and then against Dundee was a crucial save. So yeah the goalkeeper has been influential.

“I think the manager has made good signings that have played their part so the recruitment has been fantastic.

“Even Kevin Nisbet, his goals have been important. The £6.8million for Miovski that’s just money in the bank because we haven’t missed him for a minute.

“There’s a whole mix in there – stability, defensive solidness, good activity in the midfield with Shinnie driving on the team. And they’ve got the forwards to score goals.”