Recently departed Celtic first-team coach Damien Duff has been superfluous in his praise of the current crop of Hoops stars and went as far as to bracket two as “world class”.
Perhaps, surprisingly though, it isn’t Odsonne Edouard who earned this monicker but Callum McGregor and Scott Brown as Duff, speaking on the Open Goal podcast (reported in The Scottish Sun) picked out the ones who impressed him the most during his time at Parkhead:
“McGregor is world-class. I tell him this all the time. He could play in Barcelona. Taking information, the king of simplicity and making the right decisions. World-class.”
“I think Frimpong got player of the year. Amazing character and impact for a young boy.
“Ajer is a Rolls-Royce. Love him to pieces.
“Broony has been world-class for years and Jimmy (James Forrest) on the right – his stats are absolutely ridiculous.
“On the far side Mikey (Johnston). If he stays fit – my god what a winger you have got there.
“Up top Odsonne – what a class act.”
Duff’s comments will hardly be a shock to those who have observed one of the most dominant football teams in history at close quarters with the players singled out for praise forming the backbone of Neil Lennon’s side.
That Celtic haven’t received solid bids for any of the players mentioned is the only mystery given their performances for club and country and on the continent in European football’s major tournaments, however, Kristoffer Ajer and Odsonne Edouard are currently attracting elite level interest this summer.
Not that Hoops fans will be complaining with the Celts gaffer only needing reinforcements in one or two positions to once again have a squad capable of completing a clean sweep domestically – if he can keep hold of his key players that is.