McGrain: Naismith surplus to requirements
Former Celtic skipper Danny McGrain feels Steven Naismith might be better off staying at Kilmarnock rather than coming to Parkhead.
Celtic have made enquiries about the player to the Ayrshire club, who rejected a £400,000 bid from Rangers.
Naismith, 20, scored 19 goals for Killie last season playing both in a wide role and up front.
However, with the likes of Shunsuke Nakamura and Aiden McGeady playing out wide and six established strikers vying for a starting slot, McGrain believes Scotland international Naismith would struggle to get a regular game under Gordon Strachan.
“I’m sure Steven Naismith would come to Parkhead if he is guaranteed a game every week,” said McGrain.
But he added: “I’m sure he wouldn’t expect to get a game every week.
“He’s a good player. Whether we need a wide player, I don’t think so.
“But if Mr Strachan wants to spend money on a player to boost his squad then great, he will be a welcome addition.”
Former full-back McGrain, now assistant reserve coach at Parkhead, feels Celtic are short in his old position following the departure of Paul Telfer.
Mark Wilson has impressed at right-back but his first full season in Glasgow was ruined by a broken foot and a knee injury.
Jean-Joel Perrier Doumbe is yet to commit his future to Celtic and McGrain is eager for manager Gordon Strachan to provide cover for Lee Naylor on the left.
“We do not have many full-backs,” McGrain said.
“Some people say it’s not an important position but of course it is because, one, they are defenders and also ’out’ players for midfield players to get balls into the box.
“Young Mark will hopefully come back this year but he has had that many injuries in his first year.
“I think that’s a lot of players’ problems, coming back after injury and getting injured straight afterwards.
“He played with a broken foot against Manchester United – he just wants to play.
“We would have said the same years ago, ’my foot’s sore, I’ll put on a bandage’.
“He made the wrong judgment but he wanted to play for Celtic, he wanted to play against Manchester United, and that’s to his credit.”
Strachan played Darren O’Dea at left-back for the last league game of the season but McGrain believes the young Irishman should be utilised at centre-back.
“We’re lucky enough to have Darren O’Dea who can play left-back at a push,” the former Scotland player said.
“But it’s like me playing centre-back, I’d rather play full-back.
“Darren will give 100% effort in that position and he’ll get by but you want to do more than get by.”
