John Hartson has been left in awe with watching Matt O’Riley’s Celtic performances this season.
The former Hoops hero was speaking about O’Riley’s goal at Tynecastle when he said that the 22-year-old player is so good that there is no one else at the club that can do things with the ball that he does.
Hartson said [The Go Radio Football Show], “It’s technique. You’ve got to watch that ball because if all of a sudden you lose it for a second because you can’t twist your head all the way around.
“And then it’s timing. Not everybody can do it. It’s technique. It’s timing.
“Not only to make contact with the ball, but to direct the ball into the bottom corner. It’s wonderful.
“But you know what, if anybody can do that in the Scottish Premiership, it would be Matt O’Riley because he’s so good on the ball. He’s lovely to watch.
“His balance, guile, he’s been brilliant.”
Quite the praise from Hartson. And what makes it all the more impressive is that he has made those comments whilst Celtic have players like Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and the excellent Luis Palma at the club.
All three of those players, maybe with the exception of Hatate right now, have been brilliant this season for Brendan Rodgers.
Palma has the ability to unlock defences with that right boot of his. McGregor? Well, you don’t need me to extol the virtues of the Celtic captain and when Hatate is on his game, the Japanese midfielder is phenomenal.
O’Riley has been superb for Celtic this season. As Hartson said, he is Celtic’s top goalscorer this season so far on six goals. This follows up on last season where he was the Hoops most creative player heading the assists charts with 14.
If Celtic hope to get a result against Atletico Madrid tonight in the Champions League, they are going to need the 22-year-old to be bang on form.
In other news, Celtic predicted XI vs Atletico Madrid tonight: ‘Outstanding’ 22-year-old gets played in new role