Quinn must be rubbing his hands in delight.
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On Sunday, Celtic unveiled 18 year old Aiden McGeady, making his first team debut at Tynecastle.
Those who regularly attend Under 21 and Under 19 matches knew what to expect: skill, flair, speed and confidence. All of this with the wee man playing out of position!
McGeady scored Celtic's only goal in the 1-1 draw, and proceeded to win the Man of the Match award for the day.
Prior to Sunday's game, every back page on every newspaper in Scotland was linking Celtic with a potential replacement for Henrik Larsson, who will leave the club at the end of the season. I have yet to read a story which includes any truth or decent quotes, but that is what we have learned to expect from the Scottish press.
Now, McGeady is the one being lined up to replace the unreplaceable.
Cast your minds back to earlier on this season. The Celtic board had been slated by most fans for their apparent holding back of cash for Martin O'Neill to spend on players. Michael Gray was the only fresh face to a side which looked to be needing a few new recruits.
In steps Liam Miller, the boy from Ireland who had played for Celtic in their youth and Under 21 sides. Miller puts in some mind blowing performances against the likes of Lyon at Parkhead and Rangers at Ibrox. Suddenly, the fans have a new cult hero, and the board's lack of summer spending is forgotten about. Miller let us down in the end but that is not the point to this editorial.
The same thing cannot happen this season.
We need a new striker. Henrik Larsson's departure is going to hurt us bad, unless the board do something about it. Yes, we have two top class strikers in Chris Sutton and John Hartson, but things never go to plan, Sutton and Hartson have missed a total of four months football together, due to injuries and suspensions, we need back-up.
I would love to see Aiden McGeady get more opportunities at first team level this season, but I believe he will be used as a scapegoat and an excuse for the board not to spend any cash during the close season. In McGeady we have a wonderful footballer, with amazing talent and great promise for the future. He is only young and should be worked slowly into the side.
The Celtic board should not use the boy as a reason to hold back any more money from Martin O'Neill. We have one of the best managers in Europe on our hands and we may be in severe danger of losing him.
Quinn and Co, prove me wrong!
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