Gary Hooper
Gary Hooper has set only one scoring target for the season- to overtake Kenny Miller.
The Celtic striker missed the start of the season after picking up an injury against Blackburn Rovers but has made an instant impression in Neil Lennon’s new look side.
Hooper has netted eight goals in seven SPL matches and taken up the scoring mantle vacated by Robbie Keane.
Miller has scored 15 SPL goals this season but with back-to-back home matches coming up against Dundee United and Inverness Caley Thistle Hooper will be looking to be in double figures before Celtic’s trip to Aberdeen on December 4.
The former Scunthorpe striker told Channel 67: “My target is to catch Kenny Miller- that’s what I’m going for at the moment.
“Playing for Celtic has been different for me, we like to get the ball down and play it a bit rather than just looking for a target man.
“Celtic like to pass the ball, keep it on the move and create scoring chances. I don’t mind the physical side of the game, I go to the gym to work with weights to hold off the centre-half’s. If you look after yourself you’ll be fine.
“When I played non-league all of the centre-half’s wanted to kick you because you go past them. You have to take the kicks and get on with it.”
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Hooper’s late goals away to Dundee United and St Mirren have secured four vital points with just a single point separating the top two teams.
Every game is a mist win occasion with the margin for error non-existent.
Celtic’s 9-0 win against Aberdeen sent out a warning to every team in the SPL that Lennon’s side mean business with Hooper expecting Dundee United to play it tight tomorrow.
He added: “We’ve got Dundee United at home and we’ll have to go for it and get the three points.
“Teams step up their game against us, they get two banks of four behind the ball and it’s upto us to break them down while they try to counter-attack. We’ve got to get used to that, play the football that we can and create chances.
“It was great to get the win in the last minute against St Mirren just like we did against Dundee United.
“I’ve scored late winners a few times before in my career but nothing as important as those two games. I felt that a goal was coming at St Mirren, we had a lot of chances and when we scored the fans went crazy.
“The fans have been great for us, when they are behind you they keep going to get that goal. Then they jumped on top of me to celebrate that’s part of football.”
Hooper shouldn’t be in any danger of getting mobbed by supporters tomorrow but another double against Dundee United will be just as welcome as last week’s injury time winner over St Mirren.
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