Keeper essential

Last updated : 16 June 2011 By Grahame Greeen

With Fraser Foster unlikely to be allowed to come back to Parkhead,  Tom Boyd believes Neil Lennon must get a top-class goalkeeper signed ahead of the new season. Forster's manager at Newcastle, Alan Pardew, criticised the standard of the SPL and therefore may be unwilling to repeat the loan arrangements. Out-of-favour Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given has been linked with a move to Glasgow and recently admitted he would not rule out a switch to Celtic, but finances could prove to be a stumbling block for his signature. Boyd said: "Shay has plenty of experience. He's not been getting a game at Manchester City and someone of that ilk would be fantastic, with the ability that he has. It depends on the financial situation and what his wages are. We will wait and see. A goalkeeper is probably the priority for Celtic, whether it be Fraser Forster again or somebody else. Someone of that stature would be a great asset to the club."
 
While new faces would be nice in outfield positions, Boyd does not believe a big-name signing is vital. He went on: "A marquee signing would be nice but it's whether they can add to the team. We've certainly had a few of them down the years and some of them have not worked out. When you look at Neil's record in the transfer market, it has been very, very good. Kris Commons, Beram Kayal, Emilio Izaguirre - these lads have all come in and made a massive impact. None of them would have been regarded as marquee signings so if we can find more of that and add that kind of quality to the team, then I don't think we will be too far away next year."
 
Boyd believes it is impossible to say which half of the Old Firm are favourites for honours in the new campaign. He said: "It's a toss of a coin. Rangers, at this moment in time, still have all the players who won the league championship last season. So nothing has changed. They finished the season on a high. Time will tell."