Celtic striker Gary Hooper believes that most people in England think that he’s Scottish!
The striker moved almost unnoticed from Scunthorpe to the SPL two years ago and has bagged 51 goals since teaming up with Neil Lennon.
Apart from one call up for the England u-21 squad that he missed out on through injury Hooper hasn’t had a look in when it comes to international football.
Roy Hodgson has named just four strikers leaving Peter Crouch, Bobby Zamora and Grant Holt looking on from the outside with Hooper.
Celtic are hoping to sign Hooper onto a new deal but the striker admits that one day he’d like to return to down south.
“Down here in England people actually think that I am Scottish,” the 24-year-old told The Sun.
“I must admit it’s very frustrating not to be considered for England. In the last four years I’ve scored 101 goals but I have not had a look in.
“Of the 51 goals I have scored for Celtic, 50 of them have been scored inside the box so I think this shows I am a poacher.
“Stuart Pearce picked me for one under-21s squad but I got injured and that was it. I have had nothing with the senior squad.
“My dream is to play for England and in the Premier League. Also to play for Barcelona. That is the aim. It could still happen as I am only 24. But it is difficult to get noticed for England while playing in Scotland.
Hooper added: “Fraser Forster has had 25 clean sheets this season. It proves he is a quality English goalkeeper but again he has not been picked.
“I have to be patient and I am in no rush. I am happy at Celtic right now. I will play in the Champions League which I’m looking forward to.
“I have two years left on my current contract and we are in talks about a new one at the moment. We are seeing where these contract talks go.”
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He should be so lucky! 🙂
Better to have ambition than not.
Henke wasn’t the complete player when he joined Celtic but he sure was when he left.
1 more season for hoops and then sell him if he still wants to leave we should’nt lose him for nothing and hopefully by that time tony watt will be ready. Hail hail and happy Lisbon day
Very good point mark.
Tony Watt is the future still very young but looks to have the desire will and certinaly the ability.
If there was any sign that Hooper or any of his grannies or grandads was Scottish Craig Levein would have let him know.
Agree with Mark, 1 or maybe 2 years then if any big offers move him on. That’s something we have to do to keep going forward. IF we were in CL group stage every year maybe that would change.