WE have already noted this morning the views of Mark Warburton, Moses Odubajo’s former manager at Brentford on the right back attributes any how he believes that the player – if fit – would be the best right back in Scottish football by a mile – read HERE.
Warburton also revealed that Hull knocked back a £14million bid for the player from Everton before he suffered the first of his two serious knee injuries.
So it is no wonder that Brendan Rodgers believes Odubajo would be a steal for Celtic – if the 24 year old can prove his fitness.
“He’s a boy we know and we have had a conversation with. It is nothing more than that. We are looking to develop our game and the way we work and his profile. When he was fully fit, was really exciting,” the Celtic manager said yesterday after the 1-0 win in the first pre-season game.
“He is coming back from a really awful injury. We are just taking the opportunity to have a chat to see where he is at and now we will take it from there.
“Moses, if he is a fully fit player and up to speed, then he is a big talent. I saw him at Brentford and Hull and he was an exceptional talent.
“He was a winger who has been turned into a full-back, so his intent to get forward is there, but he is also good defensively, as well. That sort of player attracts us.
“We are looking to develop he squad. He will be leaving Hull and we got permission to speak, but obviously there is a concern over the fitness.
“There is still a lot to go before that could happen, but it was just nice to talk him and see where he was at.”
Rodgers, of course, lost out on his own football career through injury and he also has John Kennedy on his staff. And Celtic’s first choice goalkeeper Craig Gordon is another example of how a serious injury can affect a player’s career. Gordon was also out for two years but he was able to come in at Celtic – after training with Ally McCoist at Murray Park for a short period – and that has worked out brilliantly for both Gordon himself and Celtic, who had just sold Fraser Forster to Southampton for £10miliion and got a ready made replacement for free!
“As a coach you have to look. Absolutely. I have always been one to give opportunities whether it has been through injury or they have been discarded.
“You always have to weigh up the upside and the downside, but Craig is a great example of what can happen. He should be a great inspiration to any player.”
Celtic would be getting a really good player if Odubajo’s knees are up to it. That is something that the Celtic staff will have to determine if the deal is to progress.
