Celtic, Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney are working tooth and nail to try and enhance the squad during the January transfer window.
The main topic of discussion is Celtic needing a striker, as Callum Wilson has been linked with a move to Parkhead amid his current situation at West Ham United.
Wilson is still contracted to the Hammers, but after they signed two new strikers this month, amid their struggles and relegation battle in the Premier League, it has opened the door for their experienced goalscorer to leave.
One man who knows Wilson is James McPake, after he played alongside the England hitman when he was coming through at Coventry City.
I am choosing Callum Wilson/Kyogo Furuhashi because…
James McPake on playing with Celtic-linked Callum Wilson
Speaking on Go Radio, McPake stated that if Celtic sign Wilson, it would bring a sense of ‘excitement.’
The Scottish pundit explained how ‘brave’ Wilson was early on in his career, before going on to play for Bournemouth, Newcastle United, and on the international stage.
“He was certainly a bit younger than me,” said McPake. “He was 17 or 18. He was training with the first team, and he had made his debut at a young age.
“Obviously, he has gone on to have a fantastic career. Even when he was young, he was brave. Really quick dynamic striker. He had bags of potential at that point.
“Then you follow his career. He goes down to Bournemouth. Does well down there. Goes to Newcastle and then gets called up and scores goals for England as well.
“When a name like that pops up, without even knowing the background. I think it should bring excitement.
“But then what comes with Callum is the lack of games he has played recently. The serious injury he has had. If it wasn’t for his injuries, we wouldn’t even be talking about him coming to Scotland.”
McPake on how Wilson is feeling…
According to McPake, Wilson is on a ‘pay-as-you-play’ deal at West Ham, and it was something he was offered at Newcastle in the summer, before he left for nothing.
The suggestion is that Wilson still has the ambition to make England’s World Cup squad next summer, even if it’s looking very unlikely now, as he added on Go Radio.
“With Callum Wilson, he comes up here, and the defenders will certainly know they are in the game,” added McPake.
“We were talking about Maeda not being able to take the ball; Callum can do that. He could do that when he was 18.
“Knowing him, even when he made the move (to West Ham), because he got offered a pay-as-you-play deal at Newcastle. The reason he decided to leave, I don’t think he thought, in his head, he was going to get the game time. He still had another ambition to go to another World Cup with England. Now that’s a long shot. Miles away now.
“He is still really ambitious to get back playing. He is frustrated with the injuries he has had. He has had injuries since he was a kid. A serious knee injury, and now the hamstrings are starting to play up.
“I know the character of the boy, and if he came up here, he would excite Scottish football if he was fit.”
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