Debut goal for Paul Slane as Celtic win 4-1 at Queen of the South

Celtic's development squad were on the road again today winning 4-1 away to Queen of the South.

New bhoy Paul Slane scored on his Celtic debut with the other goals coming from Paul McGowan (see picture below), Niall McGinn and Greg Spence.

By all accounts Neil Lennon was well pleased with the display against Queen of the South's first team who are sitting in fourth place in Division One. 

Charlie Grant got another run out, playing for the last twenty minutes while the team was captained by Niall McGinn playing as a very attacking right back.

Scott Fox played in goals for Queen of the South in the second half. Fox was a key member of Celtic's 2006 double winning youth team but appears to be in some sort of contractual dispute with the club.

Rocco Quinn, Tony McParland and Craig Reid, who have all been at Celtic, all played at some stage in the match.

Match report from QotS website

Elsewhere there were debut goals for Danny Fox as Burnley beat West Ham 2-1 and for Ben Hutchinson in Dundee's 2-1 win over Ayr United in the Scottish Cup.

In the Championship Stephen McManus made his Middlesbrough debut in the 1-1 draw at Ipswich with Willo Flood and Chris Killen also in the 'Boro side.

Barry Robson had to sit the game out due to suspension while Scott McDonald has still to recover from his recent hernia operation.

The result leaves Gordon Strachan's side in mid-table with a win badly required from Tuesday's home match with Barnsley.

Paul Lambert's long unbeaten run at Norwich came to a halt with a 2-1 defeat at Millwall although they stay at the top of the Division One after Leeds could only draw 2-2 away to Hartlepool United.

Finally three former Celts were involved in Ross County's emphatic 9-0 win over Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup.

Goalkeeper Michael McGovern picked up an easy bonus with Michael Gardyne scoring two first half goals and former reserve captain Paul Lawson also involved.

Evening Herald Celtic latest

Celtic XI at Queen of the South: Cervi; McGinn, Kurakins, Vallers, Lafferty, Forrest, Towell, Tolmie, Keatings; McGowan, Slane. Substitutes, Grant, Fairley, Spence, Gallagher

Robson and Flood texted McDonald to Middlesbrough

Scott McDonald has revealed how Barry Robson and Willo Flood knew that he would be joining them at Middlesbrough.

Flood and Robson joined up with Gordon Strachan earlier in the month along with Chris Killen and expected to be reunited with McDonald.

Stephen McManus joined the Celtic colony at 'Boro on loan last week before Skippy arrived on transfer deadline day as Tony Mowbray brought in Robbie Keane and Diomansy Kamara on loan.

McDonald admitted: "Barry and Willo just wouldn't leave me alone.

"They were saying that I would be the next one to join Middlesbrough in the transfer window. We had a bit of banter about it.

"They told me all about the club and how much I would fit in and enjoy it but I had to wait and see what happened.

"I didn't know which way it was going to go, it was not until Monday that I was told that the move was on."

McDonald will miss out on Saturday's trip to face former Celt Roy Keane's Ipswich as he recovers from a hernia operation while Strachan tries to drag Middlesbrough back into contention for a play-off spot.

Newcastle, West Brom and Nottingham Forest look like deciding the two automatic promotion places with more than half of the division carrying play-off hopes.

Thirteen teams are within ten points of a play-off place with Strachan hoping that his new bhoys can hit the ground running and get 'Boro back into contention for a play-off slot.

Getting McDonald fit and scoring would be a major boost for Middlesbrough's promotion hopes and justify the £3.5m spent on the striker.

Scott Brown plays for an hour as Celtic beat Drogheda 3-1

Scott Brown played for an hour as a Celtic XI managed by Neil Lennon overcame Drogheda United 3-1.

The Scotland midfielder is likely to go straight back into the first team for Sunday's Scottish Cup tie at Dunfermline.

Brown has missed the last three months of the season but did come on as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Kilmarnock where he played at left-back and replaced Glenn Loovens as captain.

Norwegian defender Thomas Rogne also featured in the side but it was James Forrest that made the biggest impact on the match.

Forrest has been an unused substitute on numerous occasions this season and is clearly earmarked as 'one for the future'.

Drogheda took the lead in the 38th minute but Forrest equalised before half-time with Brown putting Celtic in front four minutes into the second half.

Three minutes later Paul McGowan showed his class with a fine turn and finish to find the net following a break down the right from Forrest.

CELTIC -- Cervi; Towell, Lafferty, Vallers, Rogne (D Gallagher 82); Tolmie, Keatings, Brown (G Gallagher 62); Spence, McGowan, Forrest.

Some pictures from the match

Charlie Grant returns to action

Charlie Grant's long road to recovery from injury moves up a gear tonight when Celtic face Drogheda United at United Park tonight.

Grant has barely played since starring for Scotland at the u-17 European Championship finals in Poland in the summer of 2006 after helping Celtic's youth side to the domestic double.

Darren O'Dea and Paul Caddis have graduated from that team through to the Celtic first team while Scott Cuthbert and Simon Ferry are now at Swindon (Ferry on loan) with Mark Millar is out on loan at Ujpest Dozsa.

Grant looked as likely as anyone from that side to make the breakthrough and was compared to Neil Lennon for more than the physical resemblence.

Alongside Ferry in the middle of the park the two players looked destined for great things before injury intervened.

Ferry's ankle problems have been resolved but Grant's injury has been less straightforward involving the 'pubic bone' and growing issues.

For a while Steven Gerrard suffered similar issues, as did Simon Lynch and Liam Miller, and it's to be hoped that Grant can go on to make some sort of career in the game.

Recovering from losing over three years of football at a critical stage in his development is asking a lot of Grant but he's clearly being given every chance by Celtic to recover from injury.

Scott Brown and Thomas Rogne are the biggest names on show against Drogheda but any supporter that watched the vintage youth side of 2005/2006 will be pleased to see Grant back in action.

Celtic squad: Dominic Cervi, Daniel Giordano; Richie Towell, Grant Gallagher, Declan Gallacher, B Tolmie, Danny Lafferty, Anton Kurakins, James Forrest, Scott Brown, Kuijanis Vallers, James Keatings, Charlie Grant, Scott Fitzharris, Greg Spence, Paul McGowan

Evening Herald report on Killie match

Rogne set for Celtic debut

Thomas Rogne will make his first public appearance as a Celtic player against Drogheda United tonight.

The 19-year-old defender played alongside Jos Hooiveld in a closed doors match at Blackburn a fortnight ago and will play tonight in a Celtic XI managed by Neil Lennon.

Injuries last night to Hooiveld and Andreas Hinkel against Kilmarnock could push Rogne into contention for a place in the team to face Dunfermline on Sunday in the Scottish Cup.

After signing the defender Tony Mowbray said: "He's only 19 but has had good experience in the Norwegian league.

"Thomas has a bright future and will be training with the first-team squad and competing for a place in the side."

Scott Brown will also be in the squad tonight for Celtic's third visit of the season to Ireland having previously won away to Cork City and lost at Cliftonville.

Drogheda United website

Seven on Seven: Larsson delight at Keane deal

It's not much that gets Henrik Larsson excitable but the signing of Robbie Keane had the Swede drooling at the mouth although he managed to stop short of bursting into a chorus or two of The Celtic Song.

Keane has inherited the number 7 shirt worn by Juninho, Maciej Zurawski and Scott McDonald before being handed to the new bhoy yesterday.

Speaking to Radio Scotland Larsson said: “It's fantastic news for Celtic to get a striker of his quality. He's a great fan of Celtic and that's very important, he knows what it means to be supporting the team.

“Celtic fans are unbelievable, the way that they support the team and get behind them is fantastic. I'm not surprised that the fans turned out in numbers, Robbie is a very good striker and deserves it.

“I hope that he can be good now and do well for Celtic, I'm absolutely sure that he will do well and there's not a lot of places better than being at Celtic.

“Robbie has played for other big teams in the past but this is his boyhood dream to play for Celtic. I'm all for him staying at Celtic, they need all the good players that they can have.”

John Hartson was equally pleased with the deal, he said: “This is a fantastic signing for Celtic, Robbie Keane is a world class player.

“He's did it for his country over many years and has scored over one hundred goals for Tottenham in the Premiership and for me it's a signing that Celtic fans will really get excited about.

“There's no doubt that he'll do well and score bundles of goals in Scotland, I've every faith that he'll be a great signing.

“It's cost them a lot of money but that's the market these days. You have to go and pay big if you want the best players.

“Celtic paid big money for Chris Sutton, Alan Thompson and Neil Lennon a few years ago and that brought them success and trophies.

“Over the last few years Celtic have only spent minor money, £750,000 or £1m but now they have gone out and pushed the boat out for a top class player.”

Radio Scotland interview (cut to the chase at 46 minutes)

Robbie ready to put Paris into the past for title chase.

Robbie Keane is ready to put three months of frustration into the past as he kicks-off his Celtic career at Kilmarnock.

The Ireland skipper was more devastated than anyone when Thierry Henry's handball ended his nations World Cup hopes in the Stade de France sparking a worldwide outcry.

No one had did more than Keane to drive Giovanni Trappatoni's side to South Africa but more than his World Cup ambitions lay in ruin.

Returning to the Tottenham side he was to find it increasingly difficult to split up the Jermaine Defoe/Peter Crouch partnership favoured in attack by Harry Redknapp.

With just one goal, against Peterborough since that night in Paris the attraction of Celtic must have grown on Keane by the day.

Just before midnight on transfer deadline day he took his bow in front of thousands of delirious Celtic fans with the serious action starting tonight.

In a league almost devoid of characters and special talent the pressure will be on Keane throughout his Celtic loan deal- something the striker relishes.

He admitted: “I've had pressure throughout my career as a player and as a striker, pressure comes with the job and it's something that I thrive on.

“This is a big time for me, I want to play and score a lot of goals for the club, that's why I'm here and relishing the challenge.

“If Tottenham had a game on Tuesday I'd be available, there's no reason why I can't be available for Celtic at Kilmarnock.

“I trained well on Monday and feel good, it'll take me a few games to get settled in and get my match sharpness, that will only come with games.”

Explaining his move from the Premiership Keane added: “I could have stayed at Spurs and been happy sitting on the bench as a bit part player but that's not for me.

“People who know me know that I want to play football, I wouldn't be happy sitting collecting my money and not be playing.

“I've always wanted to play for Celtic and I think that this works out for all parties.

“It's been no secret that Celtic have been trying to get me for a few years, for different circumstances it just didn't happen but this time it's came about, there was a chance that it could happen.

“I put my thinking cap on and didn't need much persuading, I'm happy to be here and looking forward to putting the jersey on and playing games.

“I spoke to the people who are really close to me, the people that I've always spoken to and I know a few of the players here like Lee Naylor, Aiden McGeady and Darren O'Dea.

“They told me that the club was massive, I'm a Celtic supporter so I know what comes with it and didn't have to ask too many questions.

“It's been no secret that I've been a Celtic fan and wanted to play for them one day. I'm lucky enough to come here at a good age, I didn't want to come here at 34 years of age, at the end of my career and struggle.

“I'm coming here at the peak of my career and can really help the club.

“It's a loan until the end of the season. I want to get games and hope that it works out well for myself, Tottenham and obviously Celtic. I'll enjoy these few months of playing football.”

Braafheid is the first through the door on deadline day

Today promises to be one of the most dramatic ever in terms of transfer turnover at Celtic.

We've all read in the past about the big names poised to join the club only for them to peter away with Phillipe Senderos of Arsenal the most recent example.

This morning however there is a genuine freshness about a number of realistic targets with none of them currently playing for Hibs or Dundee United.

Transfer window's are a notorious letdown but this time it looks like Celtic have been working diligently to uncover the type of players that will be interested in coming to the club rather than scouring the best of the SPL and attempting to recruit highly paid players from England.

Lessons seem to have been learned with negotiations to bring Edson Braafheid, Diomansy Kamara and Ivan Ramis at advanced stages.

The deals to bring Braafheid from Bayern Munich and Kamara from Fulham are both loans with Spanish defender Ramis a possible £2.5m signing from Real Mallorca.

Braafheid seems to be the deal closest to being concluded with the player and his agent arriving in Glasgow last night after turning down the chance to return to Holland with offers on the table from Ajax and PSV Eindhoven.

A loan deal until the end of the season should be a formality giving all sides the result that they require.

Braafheid has a place in Holland's World Cup squad to target, if he achieves that aim it's unlikely that he'll be remaining at Celtic but a consistent reliable left back would be something of a novelty in that problem position.

Kamara, as a former West Brom striker, is clearly well known to Mowbray with his arrival likely to mark the exit for Scott McDonald.

The departure of the club's most reliable goalscorer in mid season is something of a shock with all sorts of rumours flying around attempting to put two and two together.

Whatever has been going on in the background McDonald has never been anything less than totally professional in public and I wouldn't be surprised if he does a Caldwell and backs out of an ill-advised move to the Celtic colony at Middlesbrough.

With four players already at Celticboro, Gary Caldwell at Wigan and Mark Brown moving to Hibs it's certainly shaping up as a dramatic month.

Jos Hooiveld and Morten Rasmussen made an impact at Hamilton alongside Ki Sung Yeung who seems to be adapting very quickly to the demands of playing for Celtic.

The team that finished the match on Saturday contained only three outfield players that had featured under Strachan with Paul Caddis hardly figuring in Strachan's plans.

Swindon had hoped to take Caddis on-loan until the end of the season but that looks unlikely with the player capable of playing in a number of positions as well as deputising for Andreas Hinkel.

Keep tuned in to NewsNow throughout the day for news on the comings and goings up and down Kerrydale Street, G40.

The next Celtic hero- Morten Rasmussen?

Could there be a hero in Morten Rasmussen?

Badge kissers are ten-a-penny in the modern game but the way that the Danish striker raced to engage with the supporters after scoring at Hamilton suggested that there could be a new hero about the place.

Other than a brief glimpse of Craig Bellamy there hasn't really been a striker for the support to identify with since you know who left for Barcelona.

Scoring with his first touch and without having started a match gets the birthday boy Dane, 25 today, off to a flier and keeps the flack and criticism at bay for now.

After watching his new striker score yesterday Tony Mowbray said: “Part of the reason that we signed him- his record is pretty decent- is that he makes a connection with the supporters and team-mates.

“He does enjoy scoring goals, football fans like to see how much it means to the players. You could see that today with his goal.”

The goalscorer added: “It was nice to score for myself and important for the team.

“Three points was important for us. Every time we play we have to win, we got the points today and need to do the same on Tuesday.

“As a striker it's important to score early at a new club, The manager told me to go in and fight for the ball in the box, that's where I'm strongest and what I'm trying to do.

“I'm not the player who will make the most beautiful goals but I'll fight for the team in the box and hopefully add some goals.”

Rasmussen's booking however bemused Mowbray who added: “When is a player allowed to enjoy celebrating?

“I could understand it if it had been an Old Firm game with a player going to celebrate with his supporters but I genuinely couldn't see a problem today with the boy celebrating with our supporters- making a connection with the fans.

“I like common sense. The referee is probably going by the letter of the law, if you leave the playing surface and go to the supporters it's meant to be an automatic booking.

“I've watched him score many many goals in Denmark and he's on the fence, he's in the netting, he's grabbing hold of the pretty girls in the crowd!

“He celebrates with his supporters. He'll learn quickly, it was a reflection of how much it meant for him to score a goal.

“He gets excited and wants to score again and again, he enjoys scoring goals.”

At the back Jos Hooiveld had a quiet uninteresting and unexciting debut- exactly what you want from defenders.

Playing alongside Josh Thompson the Dutchman didn't have any chance to impress and avoided the type of bombscare moments that have dogged the defence lately.

After the match he looked a picture of happiness as he posed with supporters for pictures.

Everything about Hooiveld screams character at you but life at Celtic is much more complex than 1-0 wins over Hamilton Accies.

The real characters respond and thrive to the cut-throat death or glory surroundings of the club.

Mowbray has now put his mark on the club, it looks like there will be other new faces before the close of play at midnight tomorrow.

The attitude shown yesterday is every bit as important as skill and ability, after facing Kilmarnock, Dunfermline and Hearts over the next ten days we'll be in a position to start judging the new look team.