Simon Donnelly believes that Brendan Rodgers could revive the career of Ryan Gauld.
Sporting Lisbon splashed out £2m to sign the teenager from Dundee United in 2014 but the former Scotland u-21 internationalist has made just two substitute appearances for the Portuguese giants.
Donnelly was assistant manager to Jackie McNamara when Gauld made the breakthrough at Tannadice and feels that his game is tailor made for a different style of green and white hoops.
“I’d love to see him back, Gauld is a Celtic type player,” the former Celtic forward stated. “He was in the first team at 16 and could probably have did with another full season but you can’t knock an offer like that. He took the opportunity, it’s not quite worked out but he is a talent.”
Celtic already appear well served in that area of the park through Mikey Johnston and Lewis Morgan.
Gauld appears to have adapted well to life in Portugal with no reports of home sickness.
With two years left to run on his contract Sporting are likely to be keen to cut a deal with the Portuguese side famed for scouting and developing players through their own Academy set up.
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