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The next Celtic hero- Morten Rasmussen?

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Could there be a hero in Morten Rasmussen?

Badge kissers are ten-a-penny in the modern game but the way that the Danish striker raced to engage with the supporters after scoring at Hamilton suggested that there could be a new hero about the place.

Other than a brief glimpse of Craig Bellamy there hasn’t really been a striker for the support to identify with since you know who left for Barcelona.

Scoring with his first touch and without having started a match gets the birthday boy Dane, 25 today, off to a flier and keeps the flack and criticism at bay for now.

After watching his new striker score yesterday Tony Mowbray said: “Part of the reason that we signed him- his record is pretty decent- is that he makes a connection with the supporters and team-mates.

“He does enjoy scoring goals, football fans like to see how much it means to the players. You could see that today with his goal.”

The goalscorer added: “It was nice to score for myself and important for the team.

“Three points was important for us. Every time we play we have to win, we got the points today and need to do the same on Tuesday.

“As a striker it’s important to score early at a new club, The manager told me to go in and fight for the ball in the box, that’s where I’m strongest and what I’m trying to do.

“I’m not the player who will make the most beautiful goals but I’ll fight for the team in the box and hopefully add some goals.”

Rasmussen’s booking however bemused Mowbray who added: “When is a player allowed to enjoy celebrating?

“I could understand it if it had been an Old Firm game with a player going to celebrate with his supporters but I genuinely couldn’t see a problem today with the boy celebrating with our supporters- making a connection with the fans.

“I like common sense. The referee is probably going by the letter of the law, if you leave the playing surface and go to the supporters it’s meant to be an automatic booking.

“I’ve watched him score many many goals in Denmark and he’s on the fence, he’s in the netting, he’s grabbing hold of the pretty girls in the crowd!

“He celebrates with his supporters. He’ll learn quickly, it was a reflection of how much it meant for him to score a goal.

“He gets excited and wants to score again and again, he enjoys scoring goals.”

At the back Jos Hooiveld had a quiet uninteresting and unexciting debut- exactly what you want from defenders.

Playing alongside Josh Thompson the Dutchman didn’t have any chance to impress and avoided the type of bombscare moments that have dogged the defence lately.

After the match he looked a picture of happiness as he posed with supporters for pictures.

Everything about Hooiveld screams character at you but life at Celtic is much more complex than 1-0 wins over Hamilton Accies.

The real characters respond and thrive to the cut-throat death or glory surroundings of the club.

Mowbray has now put his mark on the club, it looks like there will be other new faces before the close of play at midnight tomorrow.

The attitude shown yesterday is every bit as important as skill and ability, after facing Kilmarnock, Dunfermline and Hearts over the next ten days we’ll be in a position to start judging the new look team.

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