Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has brought a new lease of life to Celtic.
The 32-year-old has had a brilliant career in England and also won the biggest of trophies, so there was a lot of noise around his arrival after the January transfer window had slammed shut.
Celtic fans have seen the magic Oxlade-Chamberlain has already brought to the table, from that late winner against Livingston on debut, and then his performance at Rugby Park.
But it’s not just in front of the cameras where Oxlade-Chamberlain is proving his worth because he is also impressing in training, and Andy Halliday is the unlikely provider of this news.
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What a line-up this is? Would that have been possible?
What changes would you make?
Andy Halliday says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is wowing in Celtic training
It seems as though the gossip channels amongst the professionals in Scotland are suggesting that Oxlade-Chamberlain is making his mark in training.
Speaking on Open Goal, Halliday shared that the rumours are that the former Arsenal and Liverpool player has been ‘unbelievable.’
That will be music to the ears of the Celtic Park faithful because if he can perform at his top level, then Martin O’Neill might just guide the Hoops to the Premiership title in May.
“Have you heard anything about Oxlade-Chamberlain?” asked Halliday. “The rumours are that he is f__ing unbelievable in training. That’s been floating around. That’s what the chat is.
“I know you can overanalyse any goal. But that touch and finish for the goal against Livi. The setup with his first touch, but then how quickly he gets his shot away with the amount of bodies in front.”
Who could be Halliday’s source of information?
Halliday is a squad player at Motherwell, but he is a regular football pundit for the BBC, Open Goal, Clyde 1, and at times, Sky Sports.
Of course, a former Celtic player or a journalist may have told him about Oxlade-Chamberlain impressing at Lennoxtown.
But one obvious source is a certain Stephen Welsh. The centre-back returned to Parkhead in January, but he would still have close contacts at Parkhead.
Taking an educated guess, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Halliday asked Welsh if he’s hearing anything about Oxlade-Chamberlain, and that’s where this information is coming from.
Either way, it’s great to hear this because O’Neill needs a starting midfielder to play alongside Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren, due to Reo Hatate’s abject form.
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