Stephen O’Donnell was on Celtic’s books as a youngster in 2011, but he never made a first-team appearance for the side.
That doesn’t mean O’Donnell doesn’t understand the demands of Celtic, as his Motherwell teammate Tawanda Maswanhise might face that pressure.
Maswanhise has been tipped to join Celtic during the January transfer window, as Martin O’Neill searches for a much-needed striker.
O’Neill was at Fir Park over the weekend to watch Maswanhise score the winner as Motherwell beat Ross County 1-0 in the Scottish Cup.
Is Tawanda Maswanhise Celtic quality?
Stephen O’Donnell on his Motherwell teammate Tawanda Maswanhise playing for Celtic
Speaking on Go Radio, O’Donnell explained that if Maswanhise leaves Motherwell, then it would need to be for a ‘hefty fee.’
The Well right-back acknowledged that there is ‘some talk’ around his teammates and transfer interest in their services.
Paul Cooney: “Maswanhise, was he training today, Stephen?”
O’Donnell jokes: “I heard that he refused to train. He was on a bus somewhere to somewhere. A flight. No, look, he trained today.
“Thankfully, with a lot of our players, there is some talk around a few. They are all under contract, and it’s a really good position for Motherwell.
“So, if anyone wants to come and entice them, it needs to be for a hefty fee, which I am sure the board and the manager will find some sort of arrangement, so it’s all positive.”
Can Maswanhise play in Celtic’s system?
It’s a different world when you put on that Celtic shirt, and whilst Maswanhise has been good enough to score 15 goals for Motherwell this term, it doesn’t guarantee that he will do it for the Hoops.
Another issue would be the fact that the majority of teams sit back against Celtic, and they have to break down a pretty low block.
But O’Donnell put forward the ‘only positive’ from Celtic’s perspective, and that’s the fact that Motherwell, who many think are playing the best football in the Premiership this term, are finding that teams are sitting back against them also.
“If a Celtic or a Rangers were to entice him, it’s difficult because the pressures are completely different,” added O’Donnell.
“So, maybe he is good enough technically to go and do well, or not. But it’s very hard to judge because the settings are so different to what he would be used to.
“But what I could tell you is that he could play off the right. That’s where he has played the majority of the season.
“Also, the gaffer has tweaked it, and he has kind of played him more centrally. For everything our manager is asking him to do, he is managing to do it very well.
“The only positive from a Celtic perspective would be that we now tend to get teams sitting deeper because we are playing good football. And he has still managed to find the space and find the goals.
“Can you emulate that on a bigger stage in England or Scotland? You never know.”
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