Tony Watt believes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be the talisman Martin O’Neill desperately needs to push this abject Celtic side over the Premiership title line.
Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Celtic in the winter on a free transfer after he was training with Arsenal because he had been let go by his previous club, Besiktas.
Watt explained that certain individuals in dressing rooms often look around for a big name to ‘bail us out,’ suggesting the former Liverpool man fits the exact character this declining Celtic side has been searching for.
“So, see Oxlade-Chamberlain, see looking around that changing room,” stated Watt. “He scored against St Mirren and that goal against Livingston.
“I think looking around that changing room, boys, sometimes when you are struggling, you look at who is going to bail us out. Sometimes you look around and think, ‘We need a character to bail us out.’
“I think Oxlade-Chamberlain can be that name. He is full of energy, that’s his game.”
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Would you extend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract?
Tony Watt and Alex Rae hail Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s impact at Celtic
Celtic have already seen glimpses of Oxlade-Chamberlain’s vital and individual brilliance.
The former England international grabbed a dramatic winning goal on his debut against Livingston and repeated the trick recently to scrape a tense 1-0 win over St Mirren at the weekend.
However, despite these crucial interventions, the 32-year-old still doesn’t look completely match-sharp, often struggling to keep up with the relentlessness and physical nature of the Scottish league.
Yet, Watt remains convinced of his pedigree.
Recalling Jurgen Klopp’s claim that the Englishman would have reached the very top if not for injuries, Watt insists that Oxlade-Chamberlain is a ‘level above’ those around him at Celtic Park.
A massive contract call looms this summer, Oxlade-Chamberlain only signed a deal until June, complicated heavily by the uncertainty over who will actually be Celtic’s next manager.
Here at 67 Hail Hail, we have already called for Celtic not to renew Oxlade-Chamberlain’s deal.
Regardless of his pedigree and occasional heroics, Celtic desperately need a ruthless summer clear-out to rebuild and re-energise a sluggish, chaotic midfield.
Although Alex Rae and Watt think otherwise, as they stated on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard.
Rae: “You know, when you talk about recruitment, and they get a lot of stick. In the last couple of windows, the recruitment department bit.
“But how important has Oxlade-Chamberlain’s (impact been). Coming in when he did. He came on in his first game and scored a 90th-minute winner against Livingston. Then he gets the winner against St Mirren.
“In essence, he has picked up five points just by his contributions with those two goals.”
Watt: “See the Oxlade-Chamberlain one. I said Celtic needed to go and get a Raheem Sterling-type figure. Go and get a name.
“So, see Oxlade-Chamberlain, see looking around that changing room. He scored against St Mirren and that goal against Livingston.
“I think looking around that changing room, boys, sometimes when you are struggling, you look at who is going to bail us out. Sometimes you look around and think, ‘We need a character to bail us out.’
“I think Oxlade-Chamberlain can be that name. He is full of energy, that’s his game. I heard Jurgen Klopp talking about him the other day, saying that if he had never got injuries, he would have gone to the very top.
“I think he is a level above. If he can get fully fit. I think for these last five games, he will be key for Celtic to put a run in.”
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