The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Petrov backs Hooper deal
Stiliyan Petrov is confident former club Celtic will be able to cope without Gary Hooper if the striker quits the Scottish champions.
The Hoops, who have turned down offers from Hull and Norwich, are believed to have accepted a bid from QPR.
STILIYAN PETROV is confident his former club Celtic will be able to cope without Gary Hooper if the striker quits the Scottish champions.
The Hoops are believed to have accepted a bid for the 25-year-old from QPR.
Norwich and Hull had offers turned down earlier this year but the player could now be on his way to Loftus Road after the clubs reached agreement on a fee.
Hooper has netted 82 goals in three years in the east end of Glasgow and came off the bench as Celtic eased into the third qualifying round of the Champions League at the expense of Cliftonville on Tuesday.
But Petrov believes boss Neil Lennon will be able to attract a suitable replacement for Hooper should he seal his departure.
He said: “Will he stay or go? I’d love to see him stay.
“You could see the difference when he came on last night, the way he plays. You just know big clubs will come after him.
“But, as long as Celtic get enough money, and they are happy with that and the player is happy, I don’t think it will be a problem.
“Celtic always attract good players and, if he goes, there will be somebody else who will come in.”
Celtic reached the last 16 of the Champions League last year and Petrov knows the knockout stages will be the aim again this time around but he says simply booking a place in the group stages of the competition must be seen as success.
He said: “I think that will be Neil Lennon’s target, to reach that level again. But even if they don’t, qualifying for the Champions League will be enough I think.
“It’s very important, as a club and financially, to make the group stages but it’s going to be really tough.
“Celtic have come through this round and the next couple of rounds will be even harder but I think they’re ready for it.”
Former Aston Villa captain Petrov, who played for the Hoops between 1999 and 2006. announced his retirement from football in May following his battle against acute leukaemia.
But he hopes to take to the field again when Celtic host a legends charity match on September 8 to celebrate his career.