MARTIN O’NEILL has high hopes for £9million new Bhoy Haissem Hassan being an instant hit with the Celtic fans.
The Hoops boss, back in the old routine at Lennoxtown after a minor medical procedure last week, believes the Egypt World Cup winger will “glow” at the champions once he gets into his stride.
Hassan sealed his move from Real Oviedo yesterday and O’Neill is looking forward to working with the club’s third big-money summer signing after the arrival of attacking double-act Kasper Hogh, from Bodo/Glimt, and Camilo Duran, from Qarabag.
German midfielder Mike Baur has also now joined from Bundesliga outfit SC Paderborn as the Parkhead men add quality to last season’s double-winning squad.
READY TO GLOW…Haissem Hussan is poised for action. Image courtesy CelticPlayer.
Looking at the signing of Hassan, O’Neill said: “I’m delighted that Haissem’s here and, hopefully, he’ll do well.
“When he gets to see the surrounds, I just think he’ll glow.
“Going past players now is a sort of a dying art, which is really almost unforgivable in football. And that’s what fans get excited about.
“And, to tell you the truth, so do fellow-players. They think if he can take people on and then cause some sort of havoc, make some goals, maybe score the occasional one, as well.
“It all adds to the mix and, deep down, I’m delighted we have him.”
O’Neill was forced to miss the 5-1 triumph over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday where new record signing Hogh fired in a first-half hat-trick.
THUMB’S UP…Kasper Hogh celebrates after his hat-trick in Celtic’s 5-1 win over Kilmarnock.
The 74-year-old team chief, speaking to CelticPlayer, continued: “I thought the team did brilliantly.
“It was a great goal early on and it great for Kasper because he missed a couple of chances in the game against Dundee.
“Overall, you feel as if he can stay away from serious injury, he will score goals.
“He’s proven that in the Champions League and all strikers thrive on goals, so that’s great for him.
“In terms of quality, Camilo is perhaps even playing out of position at this moment because I think he is a centre-forward and I think we have to be a bit more flexible in our teams.
“We should be able to play a number of systems without too much bother.
“I know that it’s been pretty rigid here and been successful for quite a number of years and one doesn’t really want to change a great deal.
“But I think if you’ve got two players like that, who are both capable of scoring goals, then you have to try and find different ways of performing.”
LOVE AFFAIR…Camilo Duran has make an instant impact at Celtic.
The Hoops now head for Tannadice on Saturday evening for the Premier Sports League Cup-tie against Dundee United which will be followed by the Champions League qualifying first leg against LASK at Parkhead on Wednesday night with the return in Austria six days later.
Celtic have lost on their two previous Premiership visits to Tayside, toppling 2-1 in December with Wilfried Nancy in charge and again in March with O’Neill in the dug-out.
The Irishman added: “What you’re hoping for is that the players can just play football and gel as quickly as possible because these games are coming so quickly.
“The game at Tannadice will be difficult for us. Dundee United played exceptionally well against Rangers, buoyed on by a home crowd.
“And, remembering last season, as well, we’ve really got to be at it right from the start.”
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