The Hoops boss is desperately searching for a new frontman and Croatian star Kovacevic has emerged as a possible target
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill(Image: SNS Group)
Martin O’Neill has reiterated Celtic‘s desperate need for a striker – and refused to rule out a swoop for Croatian hitman Franko Kovacevic.
The Hoops boss watched his side edge out Falkirk in a hard-fought win last night as Ben Nygren’s first-half winner saw them leapfrog Rangers into second on goal difference – and stay six points adrift of leaders Hearts.
O’Neill is sifting through a list of January targets as he looks to add some much-needed firepower to his goal-shy frontline. And NK Celje hitman Kovacevic is believed to be on his radar. Kovacevic, 26, has caught the eye this season with 11 goals in 14 league games.
Parkhead scouts are believed to have closely monitored the goalscorer’s performances, with NK Celje valuing their star man at around £2.5million.
But when pressed on whether Kovacevic was a target he had assessed, O’Neill – also linked with Chelsea’s David Fofana and Lorient’s Mohamed Bamba – said: “I’m probably sure I have done. I’ve only looked at about four and a half thousand at this minute and that’s not bad given I’m only in a week.
“You can tell that we definitely need to get a centre forward. Young Johnny Kenny has done really fine in the games but I think it’s really harsh to put that kind of pressure on a young lad.
“We’re looking for help. I’m not diverting to your thing, but I’m just not answering you! But you know, I am trying. I know I haven’t done anything since yesterday but I am trying. We will definitely get people in.”
Turgid Celtic were far from their best against the high-flying Bairns – just days after dismantling Dundee United 4-0.
Asked if it was a case of churning out results until new signings come in, O’Neill said: ”That is absolutely right – we will have to do that.
“Saturday was nice, to play in the manner that we did, particularly the first game back in this new spell of mine. Is it the second spell or the 43rd? I don’t know. But tonight the circumstances were totally different.
“We’re playing on an artificial surface – no problem with that, because they played well at Livingston and scored four goals. That shouldn’t be a problem.
Franko Kovacevic in action(Image: Getty Images)
“That’s the same for everyone. But things were different and you have to adjust and adapt. That’s the nature of the game. They have to dig and for that I’m eternally grateful.”
Despite making it seven league wins on the bounce over his two interim spells, O’Neill was far from impressed with the champions’ display – especially in the first-half when Falkirk dominated. Nygren’s goal just moments before half-time was a real sucker punch for the Bairns.
The Irishman said: “We didn’t play well in the game. We saw it through and we can play much, much better. It just seems strange in a contrast where we were so good on Saturday and tentative tonight and lost the ball in areas where we shouldn’t have been doing it.
“Overall, I think Falkirk would have found themselves really unlucky to be behind at half-time in the game. I thought we pressed a bit better in the second half, but overall, we didn’t play well in the game. I just thought, certainly in the first half, we were second best.
“I thought we seemed devoid of that real, real energy that is necessary. Obviously, I am delighted to have won the game because we will play better.”
Hoops No1 Kasper Schmeichel has come in for stinging flak from his own fans this season after blunders in Europe and recently against Motherwell and Rangers.
But the Denmark veteran, 39, silenced his critics with a phenomenal match-winning save to deny sub Ethan Williams with his boot and clinch a crucial three points.
O’Neill hailed his shotstopper – who starred with dad Peter in the stands – and said: “Kasper makes a great save for us, a really, really great save, which he has been doing all his life, in all honesty.
“Particularly when his dad was here tonight. Great. So, there you are, emulating the father. Can’t be bad.”
Bairns boss John McGlynn took heart from his side’s spirited display against the champions.
He added: “Never remind a Falkirk fan, any neutral would have said we deserved to take something from the game.
“I thought we were the better team in the first half and created some really good opportunities. I am gutted for the boys but at the same time we can take a lot of confidence from the performance.”