new bhoys star as celtic beat blackburn

David Friel
JOS HOOIVELD and Thomas Rogne pulled on Celtic strips for the first time on Thursday afternoon as a Hoops XI beat Blackburn Rovers 2-1.

The two January recruits played 45 minutes each as they build towards full fitness and impressed for Neil Lennon’s men against a strong Rovers outfit.

James Forrest and Paul McGowan grabbed Celtic’s goals at Blackburn’s Training Ground and Lennon was full of praise for his side’s display.

“I’m delighted with the overall performance,” he told the Celtic website. “We were excellent, especially in the first half, and the two new boys played very well, considering it was their first outing in six weeks.

“Blackburn played Jason Roberts and Franco Di Santo up front, so it was a good test for Jos and Thomas. El Hadji Diouf and Zurab Khizanishvilli were also playing and it was a really strong team we faced.

“The new boys came through the game well though. They were up against two very robust, physical centre forwards and acquitted themselves very well. They looked assured and cool under pressure, which is encouraging.

“They’re doing a sort of mini pre-season just now, so they have a bit to go yet but the first signs from Jos and Thomas are very promising.”

Forrest tapped Celtic ahead with an opportunist strike and McGowan again showed his eye for goal with a spectacular winner. The Hoops finished off with practically a youth team on show and Lennon was thrilled with they attitude of his youngsters.

He said: “Luca Santonocito had a great game and Kris Vallers did well too. McGowan scored a wonder goal from 20 yards to win the game, so there were a lot of positives to take from it.

“Forrest was excellent again. He’s an exciting talent and really worked his socks off for the team in a physical game. He created the second goal and scored the first. I was pleased with him.

“The two new boys hadn’t played for a while and the rest of them hadn’t played a game since mid-December. We had about eight Under-19s playing and it was a great experience for them. Taking everything into consideration, I’m really pleased with the result and performance.”

CELTIC (4-4-2): Cervi (Giordano 70); Towell (G Gallacher 70), Rogne (D Gallacher 46), Hooiveld (Kurakins 46), Lafferty; Forrest, Santonocito, Vallers, Carey (Keatings 60); McGowan, Mizuno (Spence 75)