The standout signing from Celtic’s January transfer window was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder was the biggest name signed by Celtic, and it has got Frank McAvennie pretty excited.
Oxlade-Chamberlain joined when the winter transfer window slammed shut because he was a free transfer after leaving Besiktas last summer.
But once the 32-year-old gets his feet under the table and starts racking up those minutes, McAvennie feels nobody can stop him.
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Frank McAvennie calls Celtic’s new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘one of the best midfielders in Scotland’
Celtic’s starting midfield probably consists of captain Callum McGregor, goalscorer Benjamin Nygren, and the ‘£25 million’ man Arne Engels.
But McAvennie told his Let Me Be Frank Podcast that once Oxlade-Chamberlain gets into Celtic’s XI, he isn’t coming out.
And even before the Englishman has kicked a ball, McAvennie doesn’t think many midfielders in Scotland can better him.
“I am very pleased with that,” said McAvennie. “I would go as far as to say he’s probably one of the best midfield players in Scotland, and he’s not even played a game yet.
“I rate the boy. I rate him. I rate him very, very highly. How Celtic got him is down to Martin O’Neill. He will stay. He will come in. Do a job, and he will stay (in the XI).
“People will say, ‘Who are you going to leave out?’ I couldn’t give a monkeys who is left out. This guy is top. He has bossed European finals. Champions League. He has bossed games. Bossed games at the highest level. And he’s only 32.
“Martin will put him in when he’s fit enough. One million per cent. He will be on at some point (against Livingston).
“He’s been training with Arsenal, so he needs game time under his feet. No doubt that they would have had a game between now and Wednesday. If he’s coming in, he will come on for the last 20 minutes. I can’t speak highly enough of him.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey comparisons slammed
Celtic fans will fondly remember Aaron Ramsey’s hilarious spell at Rangers, which included missing a penalty in the Europa League final.
Well, there have been comparisons between that Ramsey who joined Rangers, and this Oxlade-Chamberlain, but McAvennie isn’t having any of it.
“People are saying that ‘he’s the same as Ramsey.’ He’s nowhere near. He is better than Ramsey, who went to Rangers. His pedigree is up there.
“The boy Ramsey, albeit he’s a good player, coming to Scotland, he didn’t do it. I don’t think this boy won’t do it. I think he will be different class.
“Hopefully, I am biased.”
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