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)

HARTSON plans Celtic return- and the Barrowlands

John Hartson is looking forward to an emotional return to Celtic Park in the new year.

The fans favourite scored in the tribute match to Tommy Burns in May of this year just weeks before he was diagnosed with cancer.

Emergency brain surgery saved the life of the Welsh striker with a return visit to Celtic high on his wish list for the new year.

Speaking to the Celtic View he said: "I would have come up for the derby on January 3 but I had already accepted an invitation to cover the West Ham v Arsenal game between two of my former clubs.

"I'll be up over new year but will fly down for that match. Tony Mowbray and Mark Venus have been on the phone, so has Lenny so I'll be back soon. It's just a case of getting my health right and sorting it out.

"I love coming back up to Celtic. I haven't been up since my illness but I have a great relationship with Peter Lawwell and he is always inviting me up with my parents and family.

Hartson added: "I have had incredible support from everyone, the likes of Gordon Strachan, Martin O'Neill, Tony Mowbray, Bertie Auld, Billy McNeill and everyone at Celtic.

"Neil Lennon, Shaun Maloney, most of the players have got in touch to see how I am and wish me all the best. It's great when you have that kind of support behind you."

It's not just Celtic Park that the striker is looking to visit- some favoured watering holes along the Gallowgate are also in his recovery plans!

He added: "When I come up to Glasgow I will go to the Barrowlands, I will go to the Celtic bars and I will talk to the supporters and have a pint with them.

"Word then gets around and people realise that you are a nice guy and for all that's happened to me in football I am just a guy who was brought up on a council estate in Swansea."