Celtic Beat Rangers In Fractious Home Game At Parkhead

Celtic Tops The Table After Weekend Win Over The Dons

By Tony Quinn

All in all not a bad few days for the Bhoys. A 2-1 win over Rangers last Wednesday followed up this past Saturday with a 1-0 vicory over Aberdeen sees Celtic sit at the top of the SPL, clear by two points. In the game against Aberdeen, Georgios Samaras bagged the winner as the Hoops jumped above Rangers. The Greek striker had a poor game but his goal made the difference. Gary Caldwell's involvement in the fracas at the end of the Rangers game earned him a one-match ban and allowed Bobo Balde to make an appearance. Gordon Strachan also made a further three enforced changes after Lee Naylor, Paul Hartley and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink all picked up knocks at Rangers, paving the way for the introduction of Mark Wilson, Massimo Donati and Samaras.

Aiden McGeady has won both the PFA Scotland Player Of The Year and Young Player Of The Year awards. The 22 year old Republic of Ireland international beat off stiff competition from team mates Scott McDonald and Barry Robson and Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar to land the top awards. McGeady is the first player to win both awards in a single season since former team-mate Shaun Maloney in 2006.

Georgios Samaras is unlikely to sample another Manchester derby but he could play in more Celtic games if he makes his loan deal permanent at the end of the season. "I'm glad I'm here at Celtic, trying to help me to the European Championship (with Greece] in the summer," he said. "That is why I want to help them win the title but what will happen in the summer, I don't know. All I know is I won't be going back to Manchester City. That is for sure. After the summer we will sit round the table. Staying at Celtic is my first choice but time will tell."

Gordon Strachan has vowed to fight to keep Japanese playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura at the club for at least another season. But he admits he will have no complaints if the Japan international returns to his homeland next summer. The midfielder's contract runs out at the end of this campaign but Celtic can exercise a 12-month option to retain his services. Nakamura has repeatedly expressed a desire to finish his career at his first club, Yokohama Marinos. But Strachan believes the 29-year-old, who joined Celtic from Italian club Reggina in 2005, can achieve much more at Parkhead before returning to Japan. "It's a must that we keep Naka for another year," Strachan said. "I've told him that this club is suited to him and that it's a dream club for a player like him. He absolutely loves it here. And he knows how much the fans, the players and the coaches love him." A delegation from Yokohama are reported to be holding talks with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell this week.

Le Mans winger Daisuke Matsui will have the pick of clubs when he comes off contract in June. The Japan international is courting interest from Lazio, Genoa, Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen and Celtic - among others - as he prepares to leave France in the summer.

Reports say Celtic are interested in Espanyol midfielder Moses Hurtado. DiarioSport says Celtic are keen on the experienced midfielder, who has only just signed a new four-year contract with his Spanish Liga club.

A recent question to Benfica's U.S. international Freddy Adu was, 'what is the best road stadium you have visited in Europe?'

Answer: "The best stadium I've been in so far has been Celtic's stadium in Glasgow. Oh my goodness, I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. The fans were just singing nonstop all game. It was so loud you can't hear anything. We have amazing, amazing fans, they are awesome, but being away from home, the loudest and most intimidating environment I've been to was at Celtic. They go crazy. They would sing the whole game, so loud. It was a great, great environment. I enjoyed being there really and wanted to play, too."

Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc has emerged as top of Sir Alex Ferguson's summer transfer wish-list. Current first choice Edwin Van der Sar isn't expected to stay at the club beyond his current contract and Boruc is seen as the only keeper able to replace the Dutchman. The Red Devils supremo is looking for a keeper in the Peter Schmeichel mold, and Boruc certainly fits the bill. Like Schmeichel, the Polish international is as famed for furiously bellowing at the back four as the brilliant saves he makes week in-week out. The current EPL champions are one of a handful of clubs in a position to meet the personal and financial demands of the player and the club, who value the player at around £12 Million.