Elyounoussi is aiming to show his true worth
MOHAMED ELYOUNOUSSI has vowed to prove he is still a £16million player after he secured a season-long loan deal with Celtic. Southampton paid the eightfigure sum to Basle for the Norwegian attacker just a year ago but he has struggled for game time at St Mary’s and has joined goalkeeper Fraser Forster in moving to Glasgow in a bid to reboot his career. The 25-year-old trained with his new team-mates at Lennoxtown yesterday and insists he is ready
to make an instant impact should he be handed his debut against Rangers at noon today.
‘I talked about that to the manager and that’s what he said,’ observed Elyounoussi of his price tag. ‘I still have that quality but sometimes when you don’t play for a long time it messes with your head and confidence. I’ll be trying to get that back and help this team while I’m doing it.
‘I’m an attacking player, I like to create for myself and my team-mates — if you look at my career stats before Southampton, I’ve got a good goals and assists record.
‘That’s what I’ll be trying to bring here.’
Elyounoussi hasn’t played since the tail end of last season but insists he can contribute immediately should Neil Lennon decide to throw him into the first Old Firm match of the season.
He added: ‘It’s the manager’s decision whether I play or not but I feel okay and I have been training hard.
‘Obviously I haven’t played for a long time but I feel fit.
‘I would like to play, of course. I have come here to make an impact and help the team to win games.
‘This is a big match and I am looking forward to experiencing it, whether I watch or play. If he needs me I am ready.’
Celtic were also last night homing in on the signature of Kilmarnock’s Greg Taylor, with negotiations believed to be at an advanced stage.
The left-back was omitted from the Kilmarnock team which won 1-0 at St Johnstone yesterday, with Rugby Park boss Angelo Alessio saying: ‘We will see what transpires in the next day or so.’