Stuart Pearce says Premier League-based coach told him Celtic have a player like Frank Lampard

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Stuart Pearce has shared how Celtic’s rising star Matt O’Riley has been likened to England legend Frank Lampard by one of his former coaches. 

The 22-year-old came through the ranks at Fulham as a teenager, with Steve Wigley, who is still a coach at the younger age groups of the Premier League side, raving about the player.

Celtic did very well to secure Matt O’Riley’s talents from MK Dons in 2022 because, from the get-go, he had something special about him.

Stuart Pearce shared that he rang Steve Wigley and he told him that he has been ‘very impressed’ by Matt O’Riley and how he feels he will end up in the Premier League one day, as he told talkSPORT (07/11/23 at 8:20 pm). 

Celtic fans will be hoping that doesn’t happen anytime soon because he has been such a crucial player for Brendan Rodgers this season – Andy Walker thinks he will want to join Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur.

Either way, for now, the Bhoys are enjoying his magic because he has certainly taken his game up a level this season after winning the Treble under Ange Postecoglou last time out.

Matt O’Riley and Frank Lampard

“Steve Wigley, I rung him today actually and just sounded him out about O’Riley,” said Pearce. “He was very impressed. He likened him to Frank Lampard, to be fair.

“Not someone who is blessed with real blinding pace, but can get up and down continually. Eye for a goal. He gave him a sound recommendation. Suggesting that he will end up in the Premier League at some stage.”

Matt O’Riley – the best in Scotland

There hasn’t been a better-performing player in Scotland than O’Riley this season – words echoed by legendary striker Chris Sutton.

On one hand, that’s great news for Rodgers because he has an elite performer at his disposal, who has six goals and five assists this term, including two assists in the Champions League.

But it also results in the obvious of those with big money wanting to sign the rising Danish star.

That’s where the powers that be at Celtic come into it and need to ensure they keep hold of O’Riley – his current contract runs until 2027.  

Yes, it’s hard to turn away such vast amounts of money. But either, keep the star players so performances in Europe can improve. 

Or use that money to go all out in the transfer market and try to take the squad to the next level, something that wasn’t done in the summer, even though the new faces have been pretty good additions.