A lot of the talk in January was about Celtic possibly signing Tawanda Maswanhise from Motherwell.
It seems as though Celtic and Martin O’Neill had a look at the Premiership’s top scorer, but opted against bringing him to Glasgow.
Celtic’s focus was on bringing in forward players, as well as cover at the heart of defence, but did they miss a trick by not bringing in a midfielder?
The Open Goal panel certainly think so, as they suggested that a player much closer to Maswanhise would have been a better move for the champions of Scotland.
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Celtic should have signed Elijah Just from Motherwell
It was suggested on Open Goal by Paul Slane that Celtic should have signed Elijah Just, who he described as ‘absolutely incredible.’
One man who has watched Just up close and personal is Andy Halliday.
Even though Maswanhise has been making the headlines, Halliday thinks it’s Just who is ‘Player of the Year’ in the Premiership this season, not the man scoring the goals.
Slane: “I can’t believe nobody has been in for Just. He is absolutely incredible.”
Si Ferry: “Where would you play him in a Celtic team, though?”
Slane: “One of the two eights.”
Ferry: “Is that where he plays for Motherwell?”
Andy Halliday: “He’s played a few positions, to be fair.”
Slane: “I am not trying to get rid of your players.”
Halliday: “Sounds like it.”
Slane: “I just think he’s absolutely unbelievable.”
Ferry: “Once again, is he one of them? He is only unbelievable because he is in that system?”
Slane: “I get that 100%. You do need to take that into consideration. But when you watch him, as soon as you see him play football. You go, ‘that boy has got something.’ It really, really is.”
Ferry: “His decision-making around the box is brilliant.”
Slane: “See the wee areas he picks up as well.”
Halliday: “Player of the Year in the league, so far, for me.”
Ferry: “Do you think so? Ahead of Maswanhise.”
Halliday: “He is obviously in the conversation as well, given the number of goals he has scored. But he has been unbelievable. He has been good all season.
“But see the last couple of months, he’s just taken his game to another level.”
Just’s season in numbers for Motherwell
Make no bones about it, in the summer, Celtic need to refresh their midfield and major changes need to be made, regardless of whether Martin O’Neill wins the title or not.
Perhaps Just, who is a wide player but has played an attacking midfield role this season, is an option and somebody who should be looked at.
Just has 11 goal involvements from 21 Premiership matches this season, playing as an attacking midfield, the left and right flanks, as well as a central midfielder.
- Just’s games for Motherwell: 28
- Starts: 23
- Different positions played: 4
- Goals: 4
- Assists: 7
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