McDonald is sure veteran striker will be a threat
By BRIAN MARJORIBANKS
THERE is no shortage of star players who have arrived in Scotland only to depart again nursing bruised egos. Freddie Ljungberg, Ian Wright and Roy Keane all fell into that category at Celtic. Over at Ibrox, Joey Barton, James Beattie and Francis Jeffers are among those who did not live up to their star billing.
But Scott McDonald has backed the latest big name to come up from the English Premier League to prove age is just a number by showing his talent for goal grabbing is as sharp as ever.
At the ripe old age of 36 years, Jermain Defoe has joined the Ibrox club from Bournemouth until the end of the season.
And McDonald insists the veteran former Spurs and England international forward is well placed to prove a smash hit in Glasgow.
‘I’m excited by the signings during the transfer window,’ said former Celtic striker turned media pundit McDonald.
‘Obviously having a player of Jermain Defoe’s calibre coming up to the Scottish game is great. People can say what they want about his age but at the end of the day age is just a number.
‘Yes it’s been six months since he last played a lot of football. But up here and playing for Rangers is going to be different to playing for Bournemouth in terms of the work-rate he will have had to put in to get his chances down in England.
‘Playing at Ibrox in particular, Jermain can afford to wait for his chances rather than the physical demands that would be placed on him to go and get chances at Bournemouth.
‘It’s going to be a little bit different up here because he’s not going to get the same space. But Jermain Defoe is the type of player that if you give him half a yard, you are in trouble. He comes alive in the penalty box.
‘So there’s no question for me that he’s going to be a huge threat in the Scottish game. It will be about how quickly he can adapt to teams playing banks of four and five against Rangers.
‘But that’s where Steven Davis comes into the equation, as well. For me, what an exceptional talent he is and what a boost it is for Rangers to get him back on loan from Southampton until the end of the season.’
An SPL title winner with Celtic in 2008, McDonald also famously helped decide the 2005 league race.
His two late goals for Motherwell defeated the Parkhead club on the final day of the season, redirecting the helicopter carrying the trophy to Edinburgh and towards Alex McLeish and his victorious Rangers players.
Currently, Celtic and Rangers are locked on 42 points with the Parkhead side having a game in hand.
After this weekend’s Scottish Cup ties, McDonald believes the coming weeks — and particularly the away form of the two Glasgow rivals during that spell — will determine whether Scottish football has a true title race or not.
‘The next eight games will tell you a lot,’ he nodded.
‘Celtic have five of their next eight games at home while Rangers are the opposite of that.
‘Neither team has been great away from home this season and I think the title will be won in terms of results away from home.
‘That has certainly been the case in previous title races.
‘I don’t know that we have ever seen quite so many points dropped than this season.
‘But it has made for an interesting league and a more competitive league.
‘If Celtic and Rangers get their acts right, then I can see them running away from the rest. And you would have to say Celtic are still in pole position.
‘Their experience in being here before and winning titles is important, although you could question whether or not they have been under the same pressure for the last four and five titles and not having to go toe-to-toe with someone week in, week out.’
McDonald (below) believes that whichever side shows the most mental toughness in the run-in will ultimately prevail.
‘The league will be won on the psychological side,’ said the former Parkhead striker.
‘If Rangers win on a Saturday can Celtic go and match their result on the Sunday? And vice-versa? That is where the title will be won.
‘Going to Ibrox and losing before the winter shutdown has been a real wake-up call for Celtic.
‘But I think we are going to see Celtic come back now and answer a few questions.
‘It’s going to be a great run-in with a lot of psychological warfare between now and the end of the season. ‘Both teams are full of talent but it will be about who can stand up best to the mental battle.’