There wasn’t much for Celtic fans to shout about following the defeat to Sporting Lisbon.
Yes, it’s a pre-season friendly, so fans shouldn’t go too overboard, but one positive from that encounter was the first outing from Camilo Duran.
After coming on as a second-half substitute, Duran equalised against Sporting before they went at the other end and netted three more goals to Celtic’s dismay.
Peter Grant loved what he saw from Celtic’s new signing, but he did add caution to it all by explaining how Duran came on alongside a host of youngsters.
In the end, you had Celtic’s B team on the pitch, that’s why everything went to pot, but Grant still spoke in glowing terms about the young forward from Colombia, as he told CelticPlayer.
Defeat for Celtic in Portugal! 🚨🤔🍀
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Peter Grant praises Camilo Duran’s first Celtic outing against Sporting in Lisbon
“First on it, cuts the goalkeeper’s pass off, puts him under pressure,” said Grant about the build-up to Duran’s goal.
“The way he closes him down, he doesn’t give up. I like this. It’s the fact that he goes again. It’s a small detail. He made the defender think about it. Cut his pass off, steals the ball off him and the most important thing, he finishes it off. He will be absolutely chuffed.
“I am delighted for the young lad. Hopefully, it’s the first of many – how he curved his run to make sure the defender couldn’t pass it out.
“Listen, it’s been difficult for him because all the young boys and the changes were made at the same time he came on the pitch, so it was slightly different.
“But he has worked hard to be fair to him. There have been a few interceptions. He did very well for his goal – he will be delighted to be out there.
“There is nothing better than when you have signed for a club; you want to go out there, especially if you are a striker; you want to get a goal. He has done that.
“That will be very pleasing. It will be very pleasing for Martin also, and the staff.”
Get excited about Duran
It’s easy to be doom and gloom at Celtic, given how fans are annoyed at how the club go about their business.
But this Duran deal is a real positive. It’s a top signing, he is off the mark, and the signs look positive.
Yes, there is a long way to go, but hopefully, he can spark a forward line that seriously needs rejuvenating, given its decline in recent years.
After netting against Sporting, Duran will be hoping to do the same against Middlesbrough this weekend in front of his own supporters.
The champions of Scotland will host two pre-season games on home soil – starting with Championship side Boro, and then Italian giants AC Milan.
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