Cadden and Moult pose dual danger

SAYS ANDY WALKER

FORMER Motherwell and Celtic striker Andy Walker believes Chris Cadden and Louis Moult will carry the main threat to Brendan Rodgers’ Invincibles at Hampden on Sunday. Cadden, 21, has emerged as a real force in the Steelmen’s midfield while Moult, 25, is the Premiership’s top scorer after a double against Aberdeen took his league tally to eight, with 14 in all competitions. Walker, who scored 20 goals in 93 appearances during his three seasons with the Fir Park club, admits the pair will help Motherwell push Celtic all the way as the teams vie for the first silverware of the season in the Betfred Cup final. ‘They’ve certainly got a lot of good qualities and I think they’ve got a good chance on Sunday,’ said the Sky Sports pundit. ‘It’s going to be really difficult, but they’ve got a strong unit defensively, they’ve got guys like Cadden in midfield, who I really like, and, of course, Louis Moult up front. ‘They need to get Cadden on the ball and decent quality into the box for Moult. He’s just a terrific goalscorer. He scores a variety of goals and he’s not just a physical presence in the air. ‘His second goal at Pittodrie was absolute class, so if you can get balls into the box for him then they’ve got a chance. ‘I remember seeing Motherwell in the Scottish Cup final a few years ago against Celtic (2011) and they lost 3-0 and didn’t really threaten at any time. ‘I think they’ll threaten at the weekend, but, of course, it’s going to be hard for them.’ Walker moved to Parkhead from Motherwell in the summer of 1987 and helped the Glasgow giants win the league and Scottish Cup in his first season. Celtic are looking to claim their 17th League Cup this weekend and, although Walker insists it will be a ‘tight’ game, he believes Rodgers’ side will edge the contest. ‘I still think Celtic will win,’ he said. ‘They seem to come up with the answers, no matter what’s in front of them. They have big-game players and there’s another medal at stake. ‘I think it will be tight, 2-1 Celtic.’ If Rodgers’ side extend their unbeaten domestic sequence to 65 games, it will also be the second consecutive year they have lifted the League Cup trophy, a feat the club last achieved in the 2000-01 season. ‘It’s just an ongoing process of trying to maintain this extraordinary unbeaten run,’ said Walker. ‘It’s another chance to get a winner’s medal and another chance of continuing this era of dominance. ‘I can remember being in a Celtic side that went about 25 or 26 games unbeaten and I thought that was remarkable.’ Celtic’s record unbeaten run began on May 15, 2016 with a 7-0 win over Motherwell. The Steelmen are a different proposition under Stephen Robinson, as proven when they beat Rangers 2-0 in the semifinal, courtesy of two Moult goals. They showed their physical side that day, with Rangers defender Fabio Cardoso suffering a broken nose after a hefty challenge from Ryan Bowman. ‘Celtic aren’t shrinking violets, but Motherwell are a physical side and have to try to get as close as they can to the quality Celtic players,’ said Walker. ‘But I don’t think they’ll get away with the over-physical approach they had in the semi-final.’