Pundit names two Premiership strikers he believes could strengthen Celtic

Former Celtic forward Simon Donnelly has suggested that both Kieron Bowie and Lawrence Shankland have the qualities required to succeed at Parkhead, insisting that each striker would be capable of making an impact for the Scottish champions.

Donnelly’s comments follow the latest Edinburgh derby, where both forwards found the net in an entertaining contest. Bowie was on target for Hibernian as they raced into a commanding lead, while Shankland scored Hearts’ first goal during their late comeback attempt in a 3–2 defeat.

Speaking on Clyde 1 Superscoreboard, Donnelly shared his admiration for Bowie in particular, revealing that the young striker has been on his radar for some time.

Bowie catches Donnelly’s eye

Donnelly explained that Bowie first stood out to him last season, recalling a performance that left a strong impression during a match against Celtic at Parkhead. According to the former Hoops striker, Bowie caused problems for Celtic’s defence, including Cameron Carter-Vickers, with his physical presence and direct approach.

He described Bowie as a throwback-style centre-forward — combative, aggressive, and unafraid to put himself about. Donnelly also highlighted the striker’s left foot as a notable asset, suggesting that Bowie possesses technical quality to complement his physicality.

While acknowledging that Bowie experienced a slight dip in form, Donnelly stressed that such fluctuations are common among young players still developing their game. What impressed him most, however, was Bowie’s composure in front of goal during the derby, describing his finish as a moment of real quality.

Donnelly believes the Hibs striker has clear potential, pointing out that Bowie has already been involved around the Scotland national setup. In his view, that exposure reflects the talent and promise the forward possesses, reinforcing his belief that Bowie has something special to offer at a higher level.

Shankland’s proven pedigree

Donnelly also turned his attention to Lawrence Shankland, a striker whose name has frequently been linked with a move to Rangers in recent transfer windows. He noted that Shankland remains one of the most reliable goalscorers in the Scottish Premiership, consistently demonstrating an instinct for finding the back of the net.

The former Celtic man suggested that Rangers may have missed an opportunity by failing to secure Shankland’s signature in the past. However, he went further by stating that the Hearts captain would also be an excellent fit for Celtic, insisting that Shankland’s qualities would translate seamlessly to Parkhead.

According to Donnelly, Shankland is a refined and well-rounded striker who understands the demands of the Scottish game. His movement, finishing ability, and experience make him one of the league’s standout forwards, and Donnelly sees no reason why he could not thrive at one of the country’s biggest clubs.

Questioning Premiership “snobbery”

Donnelly also raised a broader point about recruitment trends among Scotland’s top sides. He suggested that there can sometimes be an element of dismissiveness — or even snobbery — when clubs like Celtic and Rangers assess talent from within the league.

He argued that history shows both clubs have enjoyed significant success by signing players already proven in the Premiership. Despite that track record, Donnelly feels such opportunities are increasingly overlooked in favour of overseas markets.

In his view, players like Shankland and Bowie demonstrate that quality exists domestically and should not be ignored simply because of where they currently play. Donnelly believes that smart recruitment closer to home could offer value, reliability, and immediate impact.

Celtic’s current attacking picture

Celtic’s existing attacking options provide further context to Donnelly’s comments. At present, the club’s recognised striker choices include Johnny Kenny and Shin Yamada, neither of whom has fully established themselves as an undisputed first-choice number nine.

Kelechi Iheanacho is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, limiting Wilfried Nancy’s options in central attacking areas. Meanwhile, Daizen Maeda has been excelling in a slightly deeper role on the left flank, where his pace and pressing ability have been maximised within Nancy’s system.

As a result, Celtic’s need for a traditional centre-forward has become increasingly apparent. With Maeda thriving away from the striker role and Iheanacho unavailable, the balance of the forward line may require reinforcement.

January plans taking shape

With the January transfer window approaching, the recruitment of a number nine is expected to be high on Wilfried Nancy’s list of priorities. The Frenchman is still shaping his squad and tactical identity, and adding a reliable goalscorer could be crucial as Celtic look to maintain domestic dominance and progress further in Europe.

Donnelly’s endorsement of Bowie and Shankland adds fuel to the debate over Celtic’s striking options. While Bowie represents potential and long-term development, Shankland offers proven experience and consistency at the highest domestic level.

Whether Celtic choose to look within the Premiership or explore options elsewhere remains to be seen. However, Donnelly’s message is clear: both forwards have the attributes to “do a job” at Parkhead, and overlooking talent already thriving in Scotland could prove a missed opportunity.

As the transfer window nears, the conversation around Celtic’s next striker is only set to intensify.

Penalty Controversy as Rangers Escape Late VAR Review Against Motherwell

Motherwell captain Paul McGinn has admitted he was left astonished after his side were denied what he felt was a clear penalty late on in their narrow defeat to Rangers, insisting the officials missed a crucial decision during a tense finale at Ibrox.

The Steelmen were beaten 1-0 on Saturday, suffering their first loss in 10 matches, but the result was overshadowed by a controversial moment deep into stoppage time. With Motherwell pushing desperately for an equaliser, substitute Lukas Fadinger went to ground inside the penalty area following a challenge from Rangers defender Emmanuel Fernandez. To the disbelief of the visiting players, referee David Dickinson waved play on, and VAR did not intervene in any meaningful way.

McGinn believes Rangers escaped punishment and suggested panic crept into the home side’s defence as the clock ticked down. Speaking after the match, the Motherwell skipper made it clear he could not understand why a spot-kick was not awarded.

“I thought Rangers were a bit nervy at that stage,” McGinn said. “Fernandez looked panicky to me, he stuck his leg out, and I just don’t understand how it hasn’t been given.”

While McGinn admitted he did not have a perfect view of the incident in real time, he was convinced by the reaction of his teammate. According to the captain, Fadinger’s honesty as a player is what made the decision so frustrating.

“I was quite far away from it, but I could tell straight away from Lukas’ reaction,” he explained. “He’s not the type of player who rolls around or tries to buy fouls. If he goes down softly, he’s usually the first to admit it and get back up. That’s why I was confident we’d get pulled back for a penalty.”

Instead, play continued almost immediately, something that left McGinn even more baffled given the purpose of VAR.

“When I looked over, I was hopeful it would be checked properly,” he said. “But it seemed to be over very quickly. The whole point of VAR is to take a good look at those moments.”

Despite his frustration, McGinn accepted that Motherwell cannot dwell too long on the incident. He acknowledged Rangers were stronger going forward overall and stressed the importance of focusing on improvement rather than grievance.

“They were probably better than us in attacking areas today,” he said. “We have to concentrate on moving forward from here.”

The captain was also candid about Motherwell’s own shortcomings, particularly in the final third. While pleased with aspects of their performance, he felt his side once again failed to make the most of promising situations.

“We still had good moments in the game,” McGinn reflected. “But when you come to Ibrox, you need to take your chances, especially when you’re on top. We didn’t do that.”

He suggested the inability to convert opportunities has become an ongoing issue this season.

“There have been too many games where we’ve been toothless,” he admitted. “I felt we created some really good situations, but we were sloppy with them. And when that happens, Rangers can hurt you because you’re left exposed — and they’ve got quality players who can punish mistakes.”

Motherwell did manage to stay in the contest for long spells and at times relied on a slice of good fortune, but McGinn was convinced the outcome could have been very different had they shown more composure in front of goal.

“We probably rode our luck at times,” he said. “But if we’d taken our chances, it could have been a completely different game.”

Ultimately, the defeat ended Motherwell’s impressive unbeaten run and left them feeling aggrieved by what they believed was a missed opportunity — both in terms of refereeing decisions and their own attacking efficiency. While the late penalty incident will continue to be debated, McGinn was clear that the focus must now shift to learning lessons and ensuring Motherwell are more clinical in future matches.