When you think of all the skilful players that have graced Parkhead over the years the Celtic fans will be the first to admit that we have been absolutely spoiled for choice.
We have seen players that could beat a man with ease, score at will and tackle as if their lives depended on it.
But there are specific skills that you would associate with specific players, right?
For example, best free kick taker? Shunsuke Nakamura.
Best header of the ball? Virgil van Dijk.
But for a player with the best first touch? You automatically think of guys like Patrick Roberts, Kris Commons, Odsonne Edouard and Tom Rogic.
Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig were asked in a Q&A on Celtic FC YouTube channel who they thought was better at that specific skill during their time at the club.
Brown immediately said Tom Rogic until Lustig chipped in with Gary Hooper.
Brown jokingly said, “He just didn’t like running” before Lustig replied, “That’s why he needed to have a good touch!”
Hooper was a relatively unknown when Neil Lennon spent £2.4m to sign him from Scunthorpe United.
Hooper scored 82 goals in 138 appearances for Celtic [Transfermarkt] which included three in Champions League qualifying and two in the group stages and a double in the 3-0 win over Hibs in the 2013 Scottish Cup Final.
Hooper was also a major thorn in Rangers side as he scored five goals in ten games against our Glasgow rivals as he helped the club win two league titles and two Scottish Cups. He was Scottish football’s top goalscorer with twenty-four goals in season 2011/12.
Hooper left Celtic in July 2013 to join Norwich City but could never really match the goalscoring feat he achieved at Parkhead with the English Premier League side.
“A Night With Scott Brown and Mikael Lustig” is showing in the SEC on the 18th of May where both will be joined by special guests as they recall tales from their time at Celtic.
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