‘DEMBELE’S THE BEST SINCE NICHOLAS,’ INSISTS BONNER

PAT BONNER believes Celtic should do everything in their power to keep a hold of Birthday Bhoy Moussa Dembele, who is 21 today

The former Hoops keeper insists the French Under-21 international striker, scorer of 32 goals in his debut season, is the most exciting youngster to grace Parkhead since Charlie Nicholas.

Bonner said: “You can’t compare them as players. Charlie and Moussa are two different types.

“Charlie was an out-and-out goalscorer, but he also created lots for Frank McGarvey and the two of them had a special relationship.

“He wasn’t blessed with sensational pace, but his mind was just so quick and he had supreme confidence.

“We were just the background players. He was the striker, he had the earring, the white shoes,” Bonner continued.

It’s certainly worth looking at using free bets for new customers to stick a few quid on Moussa Demebele following in the footsteps of Charlie Nichols by having a sensational second season in Paradise. He must be a good bet to finish as Scotland’s leading goalscorer.

And while Nicholas had Frank McGarvey making his job easier Moussa could perhaps look to partner Leigh Griffiths in a similarly exciting fashion. You’d struggle to decide who would score the most goals with this two playing regularly but it’s perhaps worth checking out here.

“He was the man and a Glasgow boy growing up next to Jim Duffy in Maryhill. All of that made Charlie unique,” said Bonner.

“At that time he was sensational, not just as a scorer and that’s what brought the interest. It came from Liverpool and Arsenal, where he ended up.

“Charlie came through the system and he gave a lot of young players at Celtic the feeling at that time that they could come through it, as well.

“He gave Celtic the ‘wow’ factor as a young player, which Dembele does now. Looking at the two of them, I’d say Dembele is more of a team player.

“By that, I mean he’s someone who doesn’t have the same flair as Charlie, but he’s a more a critical component of how the team works, in the way Brendan Rodgers wants to play.

“He gives Craig Gordon, for example, something to hit from goal.

“He’s crucial to the style of play, as well as having his own undoubted talents.

“I don’t think there has been anyone, from an age point of view, as good a striker as Dembele since Charlie.”

The Celtic Wiki has full details on Charlie Nicholas’ early career at Celtic. For those of us who were fortunate to have watch him we can tell you he was special first time around. He came back as a journeyman.

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