Two-footed Morgan has his sights set on becoming the new Moravcik at Bhoys

FROM Lewis Morgan, a quote for Celtic supporters to dreamily conjure comparisons with a diminutive, rare talent picked up for a song — Lubomir Moravcik. ‘If someone asked what my stronger foot was, I’d say my left but there isn’t much difference,’ said the new £300,000 signing from St Mirren. ‘I’ve got to a stage now where they’re pretty identical.

‘So, I don’t really need to think about receiving the ball with a certain foot. And it gives me the ability to go either side.’

Moravcik produced power and precision from shots and deliveries with either foot, making him a nightmare opponent and matchless asset for Celtic in his mid-thirties.

At the age of 21, Morgan has been identified by Brendan Rodgers as capable of bringing that pure two-footed talent up from the Championship to the level of the champions for next season.

When similarities to the Slovakian schemer were put to him, Morgan, speaking at a Celtic Park unveiling, said: ‘That’s a big name to live up to but I do take set-pieces from both sides, depending on what kind of delivery St Mirren look for.

‘It’s a big tool for me and something I base my game around. If I get called on to do it here, I’d be the same. If I was hitting a penalty, I’d hit it with my left — that’s the only way I can put it.

‘It wasn’t natural for me. It was something from a young age I wanted to do for myself to give me the biggest chance to progress in the game.

‘When I was younger, football was everything. So, I just spent hour upon hour every day working on my weaker side. Now you can’t tell — and that has to be a big positive for me.

‘The first club I joined as a kid was an academy called First Touch. We didn’t really play games or anything, it was all based around training. There would be certain sessions where you were only allowed to use your weak foot.

‘That helped. That was a big thing for me and I owe a lot to them as well. So, I maybe got it drilled into me from a young age.

‘It helps me mentally knowing I don’t need to think what foot I’m taking the ball with.’

Jack Ross, who will continue to work with the winger until the end of the season thanks to a loan back arrangement, identified the turning point for Morgan as his Scotland Under-21 performance against Holland in September.

Morgan’s showing in a 2-0 Paisley win for Scot Gemmill’s side against a physical Dutch team was the one, according to Ross, which convinced many the former Rangers academy kid could be the ‘real deal’.

With Malky Mackay having shown a desire in one interim senior game to advance the claims of younger talent, Morgan can start to entertain ambitions of both Celtic and Scotland breakthroughs next term.

‘I’m sure testing myself against players held in big regard holds more weight for anyone watching if you do well against them,’ said Morgan (below). ‘I recall that night (against Holland) that I performed well and people maybe did take notice of me. Even the defeat to England at Middlesbrough, I think I did well again.

‘Playing for a club like Celtic highlights what you’re doing and accentuates it on a weekly basis. So if I can come in here and hit the ground running, hopefully that can propel me on to the national team.

‘The core of the Scotland team is mainly Celtic. But what I need to do is try to get myself in the Celtic team. That means impressing in pre-season. From there, I’ll assess and make goals of what I want to achieve.’