Ex-Celtic defender Rieper backing Rasmussen for big success

Former Celtic defender Marc Rieper says young Danish striker Morten Rasmussen can be a big success at Celtic Park.

The former Parkhead defender was Rasmussen's coach at Aarhus when he burst on to the scene as a raw 16-year-old.

Rieper told the Daily Record: "Morten's the kind of player who, if he plays on a regular basis, will score goals. It's as simple as that. He's done that everywhere he's been and he'll continue to do that for the rest of his career. If he gets games for Celtic he'll score goals - and a lot of them.

"There's a lot of good strikers at Celtic and maybe Morten's not the most high profile of them. But he's definitely got the ability to play in that team. Morten's not the best technical player Celtic have ever had. But he scores goals and is a natural at it.

"Everything I'm saying is also what people say about Boyd at Rangers. He doesn't do that much outside of the penalty box but he's deadly inside it. Rasmussen is exactly the same type of player - he can do the same job for Celtic that Boyd does for Rangers. He's got a fantastic nose for goal but needs a chance for his confidence to grow.

"He should be playing more for Celtic. If Mowbray gives him a chance and the team create opportunities he won't let them down."