Ex-England striker makes bizarre claim about Championship players playing for Celtic and Rangers

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Scottish football faces constant comparisons with English football.

Celtic managers such as Brendan Rodgers, Martin O’Neill and Ange Postecoglou have all had a crack at managing English clubs.

But when it comes to players, it’s more of a mixed bag. Scottish clubs have been stung by shopping in the EFL market – just look at Russell Martin’s transfer window at Ibrox.

Jonjoe Kenny, Oliver Burke and Nat Phillips are among the players to have struggled at Celtic Park after establishing themselves in the Championship.

But former England striker Darren Bent has bizarrely claimed that the opposite is the case.

Former England striker Darren Bent on Championship players at Celtic and Rangers

Scottish fans are no strangers to bewildering arrogance from the English.

But after Tuesday night’s heroics at Hampden, Scotland supporters will be feeling better about themselves than they usually do.

READ MORE: Celtic transfer target has plug pulled on January move after club president’s public comments

But for Bent, speaking on Talksport, this apparently hasn’t been the case, with Premiership ‘superstars’ struggling in the EFL.

He and Andy Goldstein got into the conversation in reaction to Phillippe Clement becoming Norwich manager, nine months after being sacked by Rangers.

Host Goldstein said to him: “He was the Rangers manager, and now he’s gone to the Championship. Is that a similar level of coaching?”

Bent replied: “Nah, he got sacked from Rangers. He wasn’t getting a Premier League job.

“It’s hard to compare, because finances and money play a big part. I think if Celtic and Rangers were in the Premier League, and got the same financial backing that our clubs get…

“So it’s hard. What I will say is that I’ve seen Championship players go to Celtic and Rangers and turn themselves into absolute superstars, but struggle here.”

Goldstein said: “I know exactly who you mean.”

It will be less clear to us who he means.

Current Celtic players to have played in England

Ten members of Celtic’s current squad have played in England, at various levels.

Kasper Schmeichel is a Premier League winner, but he was made to look daft by Norwich captain Kenny McLean on Tuesday night.

Kieran Tierney won the FA Cup in his Arsenal days, and also put his name in the history books in the Scotland win over Denmark.

Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty and captain Callum McGregor are among the other Hoops men to have played in the EFL.