Former Celtic star, Frank McAvennie, believes that Fraser Forster is destined for a return to Parkhead given his current status at St Mary’s for Southampton.
Speaking to Football Insider, McAvennie hailed the original move for Forster and the Hoops efforts to try to get him back again this summer.
So what has McAvennie said?
When asked how big a deal it would be for Neil Lennon to secure a deal for Forster again, he said:
“He was as big a signing for Celtic as (Allan) McGregor was for Rangers. No disrespect to (Craig) Gordon but Forster is a far better player.
“Craig was injured anyway and getting bumps and lumps.
“As soon as I heard it was true that they were going for him [this summer], for me, brilliant. You have to go for him.
“He is not going to get a game at Southampton. He is a great player. Great stature for Celtic and he will want to come back.
“He will not want to go back to Southampton and sit on the bench, that is for sure. That is if he can even get on the bench. They must have two very good goalkeepers in front of him!”
So is McAvennie correct?
Given the current status of the Celtic goalkeeping department, signing Forster again on any capacity could be as important as retaining the services of Odsonne Edouard in their attempts to win a tenth successive Premiership title.
Forster was exceptional last season and, if anything, performed above the levels that could’ve realistically been expected of him given how inactive he had been.
McAvennie is correct in that – regardless of the form he showed last season – Southampton have two keepers who have both been recognised at international level in recent years and are spoilt for choice, Forster will remain the man looking in and, if he is lucky, might get the occasional game on the bench.
His spiritual home is at Parkhead and unless one of the rumoured clubs makes a move for him, he could yet end up back where he belongs and destined to finish what he started ten years ago.