CAMILO DURAN is poised to make his Parkhead debut when Celtic take on Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon.
The £5.5million recruit from Qarabag last week made a favourable first impression when he scored the Hoops’ consolation goal in the friendly against Sporting Lisbon at the Estadio Algarve last night.
Martin O’Neill’s side, missing eight World Cup stars, were turned over 4-1 by the Portuguese club who flattened their opponents with a three-goals-in-seven-minutes blast in the second-half.
Duran, who came on in the 64th minute as the Irishman made a raft of changes and emphasised his goal threat by scoring within 60 seconds of his appearance.
DEBUT GOAL…Camilo Duran levelled for Celtic before a seven-minute collapse against Sporting Lisbon in the friendly in Portugal last night.
The lively raider intercepted a pass from Eduardo Quaresma and wasted no time in finishing with a perfect strike from close range that left the keeper helpless.
That goal nullified Sporting’s 24th-minute effort that gave them the interval advantage.
But the Hoops were trailing again seven minutes after the Colombian’s strike and then the roof fell in.
Duran, though, was a bright spot in a disappointing last 20 minutes or so.
O’Neill, though, preferred to look ahead rather than mull over his vulnerable rearguard that started with Cameron Carter-Vickers partnering Dane Murray before the USA centre-back made way for Maik Nawrocki.
The 74-year-old team chief reckons the champions’ fans will think they are seeing double against Boro as the team return to the east end of Glasgow for the first time since their dramatic 3-1 triumph over Hearts to seal their fifth successive title on May 16.
THE THINKER…Martin O’Neill has much to ponder before the new season.
Reflecting on the first showing of Duran, O’Neill, speaking to the Glasgow Times, said: “This is Daizen Maeda the second!
“I do think he’ll be a proper player, not just because he closed down and scored the goal.
“But he does like to press, absolutely.
“He scored and there were a couple of moments that didn’t quite bounce his way.
“I think he’ll be really decent for us, I genuinely do.”
The manager is convinced the new Bhoy has an important role to play in the coming weeks as the Hoops prepare for the challenges at home and abroad.
The Celtic supporters will get the chance to make up their own minds at the weekend.
DURAN DEBUT GOAL AS HOOPS TOPPLE
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