HOOPS UP STAR CHASE
Celtic keeper Scott backs bid for Hibs midfielder
CELTIC are ready to press on with moves for John McGinn and Harry Wilson as deadlines approach for their opening Champions League qualifier against Alashkert.
The Parkhead outfit are set to launch a second bid for McGinn, right, after Hibs booted out their first offer.
Liverpool winger Wilson, above right, is also firmly on the radar in a loan deal despite interest from a host of suitors in.
UEFA have two deadlines in place which affect Celtic before Tuesday’s firstleg tie against
SCOTT BAIN proved his big-game mentality by moving along the M8 from Hibs to Celtic and sparkling.
The Hoops keeper has no doubts John McGinn would do exactly the same.
Bain wasn’t a team-mate of the midfielder’s for long at Easter Road. Brendan Rodgers snapped him up before he’d even played a competitive game.
McGinn though has certainly proved he can handle the heat over three years in Leith. The bigger the game, the bigger the display as starring shows against Celtic last term proved.
Bain and McGinn have also been together on Scotland duty for trips to Peru and Mexico and the shot-stopper is convinced the dynamic 23-year-old can slot straight into the high-tension life at Parkhead.
He said: “John has a strong mentality and that’s one of the biggest aspects of playing for Celtic. The levels demanded of you are so much higher than everywhere else that you need to be on it every day.
“John definitely has the mentality to handle that. Some players just love the big occasion and he’s shown that in his career
“John would fit in at Celtic and it’s always good to have that Scottish core at a club like this. They know the values and what it means to play for the club.
“John is a good player. Everyone has seen how powerful and strong he is and he can pass the ball. He is just a great lad to have about any club. I have known John for a while and I played with both his brothers too. I don’t think joining Celtic would faze John. He has good character.
“He believes in his own ability and has the quality to back it up. Any player coming to Celtic would also learn a lot from the manager. If they are prepared to work and listen, you will improve tenfold.”
Bain speaks from experience. He has done just that himself. Working alongside Scotland No.1 Craig Gordon and top coach Stevie Woods, he’s blossoming at Celtic. Bain’s progression from a debut at a 50,000-capacity Ibrox to the Azteca Stadium in front of 70,000 fevered Mexicans has shown both his ability and temperament are beyond dispute.
With a four-year contract now also in his pocket having shone during his initial loan, the pressures have changed. From trying to a win a deal, the job is now to win a regular place.
Bain at least has total faith from Rodgers and said: “I was thrown in at the deep end a bit for club and country making debuts at Ibrox and the Azteca. But I really enjoyed it. Like anyone, you don’t know how you’ll handle a situation until you are put in it.
“Not everyone will get the chance to play here at Celtic. But once you are in there and get that experience, you find out if you can handle it.
“With the contract all sorted it makes me feel a little more at ease than I was before. I know I am going to be here for a long time and I have really enjoyed getting back to the levels we had before.
“It did feel a bit like a trial before. If you make a mistake, you think, ‘Who’s watching?’
“I got a few games and last year was great but now I am permanent I feel settled.
“The manager hasn’t really given me any targets but it is something me and Woodsy will speak about in the coming weeks. I only knew Stevie from playing against Celtic with Dundee.
“We met after games but never had an in-depth conversation before I came. Celtic are a giant club and one everyone wants to play for but as a keeper Woodsy is a massive part of that.
“It’s one the reasons why you want to come here because he’s top notch. He’s very modern. He looks into a lot of things and analyses the position, so you can learn a lot from him.
“It’s all about just putting the work in with him and Woodsy is at the top of his game. He’s a guy who is appreciated as a person as well as a top coach.
“All the coaches here are at the top level and it’s a great place to be, so it’s a case of working hard and doing as well as possible.
“Who will start? That’s up to the manager. He trusts me and Craigy and that’s a great position for him to be in. But it’s his decision, all we can do is work hard and be ready.”
John definitely has the mentality to play for a club as big as Celtic SCOTT BAIN