Celtic are on the verge of adding goalkeeper Fraser Forster to the squad, BBC Scotland report.
With an injury to Scott Bain reducing Neil Lennon’s options, Forster will be brought in to compete for the number one position.
Currently Craig Gordon is available but clearly the manager feels he needs more depth.
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The outlet say that the former English international will be joining on a loan basis.
Forster was a stand-out in the Hoops team during his first spell at the club. In total he made 197 appearances, helping keep 101 clean sheets (Transfermarkt).
Crucially too, he was often superb in Europe. He famously vexed Barcelona amongst others as Lennon’s side competed with the continent’s best.
However, his peak years look to be behind him despite still only being 31. He hasn’t played regularly for Southampton since 2017, with fitness and form issues seeing him drop to third-choice at the Saints.
It’s not exactly encouraging ahead of a potential return, but Celtic will be hoping he can rebuild his career in Glasgow. It was goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods who helped him blossom into an elite goalkeeper.
(Photo by AMA/Corbis via Getty Images)
Celtic fans on Fraser Forster
Reaction to his imminent return has been pretty mixed within the Celtic support.
There are certainly some in favour…
Big Fraser Forster back happy with that 👍🍀
— Duncan Speirs (@speirs_duncan) August 22, 2019
Big Forster coming back is good news. Mental how quick we can turn around a keeper yet drag our heels with other signings
— Connor (@cbev91) August 22, 2019
Big Fraser Forster? Get him in!! Big man is class!
— Erin go bragh! (@paulmac1888) August 22, 2019
Happy with this tbh
— Andy Thom’s right boot (@ForeverCeltic2) August 22, 2019
Absolutely over the moon to see the potential return of Fraser Forster.
— Radical Celt (@RadicalCelt) August 22, 2019
Others are less than impressed, with some feeling the club are being unambitious at best, or making a serious mistake…
Dont understand the Fraser Forster move, going backwards, seems lennon trying to surround himself with people he is comfortable with and won't question his methods.
Perfectly decent goalkeeper at the club in Craig Gordon, really don't get it.
— gerry (@gerryward1888) August 22, 2019
The signing of Forster is unambitious. It shows we have no scouting team to speak of. But I’ll take it, over trusting Bain and Gordon for an entire season.
— Irons (@_zsipod_) August 22, 2019
Terrible move. I like FF but he's terrible with the ball at his feet and BR proved that having a ball-playing gk allowed us to dominate the opposition in Scotland. The key reasons behind the TrebleTreble. Now we are going back to NL's style twhenever under pressure kick it away.
— Shaun (@TheTweetofShaun) August 22, 2019
Is this true?? We need bloody defensive reinforcements @CelticFC . Please please sort out this mess. Hh
— paul dean whitworth (@paul1967hoops) August 22, 2019
The reality of the situation is probably somewhere in between the social media reaction, as always.
We don’t really know what kind of shape Forster is in given his lack of appearances.
Given his playing history at Celtic Park he deserves the benefit of the doubt initially.
As an emergency option following the injury to Scott Bain we could have done a lot worse.
Let’s hope he is still the player he once was.
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