Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer has backed Celtic target Alfie Doughty to “easily” hit double figures for the Addicks this season.
Doughty got off the mark on Saturday as he bagged a superb first goal of the campaign when Charlton visited Crewe. His counter-attacking opener highlighted the player’s pace and composure in front of goal.
Just last night, the Scottish Sun reported that Celtic were prepping a third offer of around £800k for the Charlton winger.
And it appears that, if the deal is complete, the Hoops will be bagging a player who has seriously improved on his end product. Or at least that’s what Bowyer believes.
As quoted by London News Online, the Addicks manager said: “Before I’d said he needed to improve in the final third and his end product – the pleasing thing for me is the way he took his goal (vs Crewe).
“He wouldn’t have done that before – just passed it into the corner. It’s something I work with them on all the time and it just shows they are learning.
“He [Doughty] should get double figures – because he will get in those positions a lot. He went through one on one in the cup game and unfortunately he missed. But at the weekend he had that chance and took it. He should get double figures, easily.
“The only thing I hope does change is that he signs a contract.”
Celtic could do with an added goal threat down the left
Doughty can play down either flank and his goal against Crewe on Saturday actually came from him darting down the right side.
However, so far this season, Celtic haven’t really gotten much of a return down the left side. Mohamed Elyounoussi has only managed one assist and no goals in five Premiership outings this season. His set-up for Patryk Klimala’s goal in Dingwall on Saturday was his first direct goal contribution in the league this season.
Doughty would provide an alternative option, and one who, according to his own manager, has seriously improved when it comes to his end product.
That’s not to say that the Charlton man would overtake Elyounoussi in the pecking order. But his pace and energy could perhaps suit the left wing-back role in a 3-5-2 formation more than the Norwegian’s attributes would.
Of course, Neil Lennon has occasionally shifted James Forrest over to the left in order for Jeremie Frimpong to play higher up the right side. But even Forrest has struggled to make himself a standout in the position.
It looks as though Doughty is a player on the up. Hopefully, if Celtic manage to get a deal done, he realises that goalscoring potential in green-and-white.
In other news, a former Celtic favourite has left the Premiership just 24 days after returning.
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