Celtic-linked Thomas Robert “loved” his recent trial at Lennoxtown, according to Airdrieonians teammate Leon McCann.
The Frenchman has been linked with moves to both the Hoops and Rangers in recent months [Daily Record]. However, the right-winger spent some time at Lennoxtown recently on a trial basis.
Robert is currently back with Airdrieonians as he looks to complete his campaign with the League One outfit. There have been no updates on whether Celtic will go back in for the Frenchman in the summer, with plenty of uncertainty still surrounding the club.
However, his quality has been bigged up by McCann, who shared what Robert told him about his recent trial.
As quoted by the Daily Record, McCann said: “Thomas is quite a quiet boy but he said it was a fantastic experience and that Celtic looked after him very well. He wasn’t able to train with the full first-team because of Covid but he said it was brilliant. He got kitted out in all the Celtic gear and they let him keep it.
“Thomas is technically brilliant. He’s just so comfortable on the ball, he has amazing feet and it’s so easy for him to just glide past players which is why he gets fouled a lot. His style probably isn’t really suited to League One because it’s not the most technical league and there is a lack of foreign players.
“He will learn a lot from playing here – he will learn to move the ball quicker because he won’t get a lot of time on the ball. He always wants to take boys on, try stepovers so he will learn the physical side because he’s got the potential to go really far.”
Celtic’s Thomas Robert pursuit has gone quiet
You wonder whether this is still a deal Celtic remain interested in. Not because of anything Robert has done necessarily, but due to the upheaval the club is going through.
Yes we signed Liam Shaw after Neil Lennon had left the club. But it’s important to remember that the Sheffield Wednesday man was brought in whilst Nick Hammons, our former Head of Football Operations, was still at Parkhead.
These days, he’s gone too. So we’re now without both a permanent manager and a Head of Recruitment. It’s difficult to see who would be the one to sanction any deal for Robert. Especially if the next manager doesn’t fancy the move himself.
Of course, it shouldn’t be a complex one to pull off. The Frenchman only signed a one year deal with Airdrie, so he could be bagged for nothing in the summer.
He also features in a position – right wing – that Celtic are severely lacking in numbers in. Outside of James Forrest, we don’t have a natural right-winger who can push him or replace when injured.
It remains to be seen if Robert is indeed that alternative we’ve been looking for. But it certainly seems as though he had a brilliant time at Lennoxtown.
In other news, journalist Stephen McGowan has been discussing Eddie Howe and Richard Hughes to Celtic.
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