When Andy Carroll was sold for £35m it was inevitable that attention would start to focus on other English centre forwards- particularly those that can be directly compared to the new Liverpool striker.
In every department except one, the Premiership category, Gary Hooper compares more than favourably with Carroll.
Fortunately for Celtic Hooper will be in action at Ibrox today whilst Carroll misses Liverpool’s trip to Chelsea with some reports suggesting that his season could be over.
Signing Carroll wasn’t the most imaginative of moves by Liverpool- the price involved left most supporters staggered. If 11 Premiership goals are worth £35m what price on Gary Hooper’s contribution to Celtic?
“Unless we get a ridiculous amount of money for him I’d be very reluctant to let him go anywhere,” Neil Lennon answered to the obvious question. “He’s only 22 so he’s still got a lot to do in terms of his football. But you can see he’s a quality player already.”
Old fashioned scouting and some persuation brought Hooper to Celtic with the Scunthorpe striker escaping the radar of the Premiership giants who rarely look on their own doorstep for players.
Lennon explained: “We always thought he was a good player. I went down to see him twice, once on my own then I took Johan (Mjallby] down at the back of last season and I really liked what I saw.
“What I liked about him was his awareness and touch. His intelligence. I thought last Tuesday (at Aberdeen) was his best game for us so far.”
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Hooper’s recent form will put him under the spotlight at Ibrox today as Celtic attempt to move into the last eight of the Scottish Cup.
The Championship has become a favoured shopping centre for Lennon with Kris Commons the latest addition to his Celtic squad.
With change out of £3m from aquiring Hooper, Commons and Joe Ledley the Celtic boss is entitled to feel pleased with his business dealings.
Coming into a team in form and playing well can be difficult but in just two appearances Commons has made a big impact on his new side.
His debut goal against Aberdeen was an early marker on his Celtic career but since then the assists have piled up impressively.
“Kris has a good range to his game- he’s got good delivery from set-pieces, but we knew that anyway. I’ve been more impressed with his all-round game, his awareness.
“At 27, it’s a good bit of business for us because he’s got goals in him, he always has through his career, maybe ten or 12 a season from wide positions.”
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Anthony Stokes to score at anytime- 7/4
Gary Hooper to score at anytime- 7/4
Georgios Samaras to score at anytime- 7/4
The mindset of the Celtic support going to Ibrox has been transformed since the January 2 SPL visit but Lennon is wise enough to realise that anything less than total application will lead to defeat today.
“Whatever tactics or formations you want to put out there, the players have to go out and carry the plan for you,” the Celtic boss added. “If you get it right, you’re the greatest and, if you get it wrong, you’re a tube.
“Rangers have got a good mentality and you can never write them off. The young boy (Jamie] Ness has come in and looks a good footballer. They’ve played a lot more football (as in good football] this year than they have done in previous years.
“They’ve got good players, they’re hard to beat and they never know when they’re beaten as well. That’s something they’ve developed over the last couple of years and they’ve got decent individuals who can change a game very quickly. They’re formidable opponents.”
13 goals in 5 games= James Keatings
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