CELTIC defender Eoghan O’Connell has agreed to join Walsall in a loan deal that will keep him at the club for the remainder of the season.
It looked as though the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international was heading for Kilmarnock – until the proposed move was hi-jacked by the English third tier outfit.
O’Connell said: “I’m really looking forward to getting started. I heard about the interest last week and it took perhaps a little longer to get done than we would have hoped.
“I spoke to the manager, Jon Whitney, and he was really keen for me to come down, and as soon as I’d spoken to him, I was really excited to come here and be a part of it.
“Coming through at Celtic, we were always taught to play it out from the back and I like winning games – I don’t like losing.
“I played a few games for Celtic at the start of the year, but I’ve not played as much recently and I wanted to get out and play.
“This opportunity came up and I’m really excited about it. I’m looking forward to working with the gaffer and I’ll try my best for Walsall.”
Brendan Rodgers was eager for the 21-year-old defender to get game-time after he dropped down the Parkhead pecking order with the re-emergence of Jozo Simunovic after injury and the signing of Ivory Coast veteran Kolo Toure.
O’Connell made seven appearances for the Hoops, including the Champions League encounter against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in September, before fading from the first team picture.
Rodgers hopes the temporary move will kick-start his season.
