Neil Lennon has revealed his identikit perfect player as he chases three new faces before the window closes next Monday.
Celtic have faced a summer of recruitment struggles but the gaffer is only in the market for players who fit his mould.
He said: “I look for pace, stamina, enthusiasm and a bit of quality helps too. I don’t want anyone who hides. Bravery is
important here as well.
“We need presence, quality and personality on the pitch. We are hoping the ones that have come in can settle and can be a success here.
“We’re still in the market for two or three players.”
And the Hoops boss has denied there’s a rift with winger Scott Sinclair and insists the club aren’t freezing out the treble Treble-winning hero.
The 60-goal Hoops wideman has only made four appearances from the bench all season - and hasn’t even been in the matchday 18 for the past three games.
The manager admits he would understand the 30-year-old feeling disenfranchised, but doesn’t believe the club are mistreating him and says his absence is purely down to the form of Mikey Johnston, James Forrest and Lewis Morgan.
Lennon said: “If he feels like that, it’s understandable. We don’t want to treat him badly because he’s a senior pro. It’s just that he’s finding it difficult right now to get into the squad. I can’t pick six wingers.
“Our wide men have been playing so well and we’ve been scoring goals. We look a threat. We have good pace in the team, something which Mikey brings to us.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Christie has vowed never to rest on his laurels now that he’s finally a Hoops hero.
The playmaker’s stellar second-half show as a sub in their 3-0 Betfred Cup semi show at Murrayfield – culminating in a stunning top-corner 22-yarder – was a watershed for 24-year-old.
Now with eight goals in 10 games this season, he’s the first name on the Hoops team-sheet.
And he admitted: “I know it’s only 10 months but it feels like a lifetime ago!
“It’s nice to look back and see how far I’ve come. I’ve been delighted at how things have gone.
“But I’ve spoken to the gaffer about it and I can’t rest on my laurels, I need to keep pushing.
“Thinking back to that game, it was the first time I’d stamped myself as a Celtic player and I kind of kicked on from there.
“I’m absolutely a better player now than I was then and I put that down to how many games I’ve played for Celtic, getting used to
handling the crowd and dealing with big occasions.
“I do feel as if I’ve got a few extra per cent at the moment, which is down to the guys putting us in great condition in pre-season.
“It worked well for me that I came back from the injury and straight into pre-season to work hard.
“And I prefer it when the games come thick and fast just now because it gets you right up to speed.
“When you come into these games, the only thing you can absolutely guarantee is working hard and hopefully everything else follows from that.”
