Former Shamrock Rover's Manager Roddy Collins has today stated that Paddy McCourt has all the talent required to be a big hit at Paradise, stating that he is a better player than McGeady.
Collins said: "Paddy is a sensational player, an outstanding talent. He is a more natural footballer than McGeady and I'm serious about that.
"Managers have played him as a winger but he's better behind the front where he can kill teams on his own.
"I just know Paddy is going to be one of the all-time Celtic legends.
"I spoke to him on Wednesday night and he told me there were a few clubs looking at him and not just West Brom. He didn't mention Celtic to me.
"What he did say was that he wasn't going to get much sleep. If I had known he had spoken to Celtic he wouldn't have got a wink. I'd have driven to Derry and taken him to Glasgow myself.
"I still remember the first time I saw him. He was in the Rochdale reserves and there are times in your life in sport when you see someone really special - and that was Paddy.
"He took on players for fun that day and I knew he had something few others possess. Celtic fans might not know him now. They soon will."
The player himself has admitted that this is a dream come true for him and still has to come to terms with the fact that he has signed for his boyhood heroes.
McCourt said: "I'm thrilled and it still hasn't quite sunk in yet.
"This is a dream come true for me. There was interest from a few clubs but as soon as I found out Celtic were in for me, my mind was made up.
"I have always been a Celtic supporter and there was only one choice to make. It's an honour to join one of the biggest clubs in the world.
"Celtic have won the SPL title three times in a row and compete in the Champions League every season. What more could you ask for?
"My first target is to get a good preseason and then take it from there."
