Ange’s delight as golden Mooy grabs brace for Celtic

DELIGHTED Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou heaped praise on Aaron Mooy after the Socceroos star scored twice in the Hoops’ 4-0 thrashing of Hibernian.

Mooy’s first goals for Celtic since his off-season move to the Glasgow giants helped his side maintain a nine-point advantage at the top of the Scottish Premiership ladder.

The former Melbourne City, Huddersfield, Brighton and Shanghai Port player opened the scoring at Easter Road in the 28th minute with a well taken half-volley.

The 28-year-old Mooy then completed his brace from the penalty spot in the 58th minute to increase Celtic’s lead to 3-0 after Japanese attacker Daizen Maeda had doubled the visitors’ advantage nine minutes before halftime.

Maeda’s countryman Kyogo Furuhashi scored Celtic’s

fourth goal in the 64th minute as the Hoops warmed up in style for Monday night’s Old Firm clash against secondplaced Rangers.

“Once we got a grip in the game, we were outstanding,” former Socceroos coach Postecoglou told Celtic TV.

Postecoglou said Mooy had been “desperate” to score his maiden Celtic goal.

“Aaron’s been knocking on the door in terms of getting a goal because he’s been getting into some good areas and I know he’s been desperate to get one,” he said.

“With Aaron, it’s just been a matter of getting him fit. He knew that because he hadn’t played a lot of football for six months but you can see now that he’s strong, his running capacity ... and the quality’s there as well.”

Mooy said it was “an amazing feeling” to score for Celtic.

“I’ve had a few chances in other games but it feels great to see one hit the net,” he said.

‘You don’t score goals unless you get into those positions, so I try and take that on board and get in position and hit the targets,

“I have been (a penalty taker) in the past for different clubs, although not for a while, so it was good.

“Hopefully improving all the time.“