Premier League giants Newcastle United sent scouts to watch Denmark’s 2-1 victory over Croatia’s U21s in midweek with Celtic’s Matt O’Riley shining in front of the Magpies, according to TV2.
The former Fulham starlet had only ever scored two headers in the entirety of his senior career before Wednesday night. He took his tally to three in Vejle; latching onto a fine cross from the left before powering the ball into the ground and into the back of the Croatia net.
As you might have gathered, it is not O’Riley’s aerial ability that has caught the eye of scouts from south of the border.
Since joining Celtic from third-tier MK Dons in January, the Hounslow-born Denmark U21 international has earned himself plenty of admirers; painting plenty of pretty pictures with his paintbrush of a left boot. Parkhead’s lush turf is his own personal canvas.
O’Riley’s guile, class and devilish dead-ball delivery has secured him a regular place on Ange Postecoglou’s team-sheet too; the £20 million-rated playmaker enjoying a major role in Celtic’s Premiership title-winning campaign before going toe-to-toe with Real Madrid in the Champions League group-stages.
Could Matt O’Riley leave Celtic for Newcastle United
“I know that Leicester showed a lot of interest in me. And I think Newcastle were there too,” O’Riley explains to TipsBladet.
“It’s great to get some recognition. It means that I’m doing well at Celtic. But as I say, Celtic is the perfect place for me right now. It’s a big club, we play in the Champions League, the fans are insanely good and the team is good.
“It’s a perfect place to be. And I also think it’s a good place to be if I want to go to the World Cup with Denmark.”
What the future holds for O’Riley’s beyond Qatar, should he secure a seat on the plane for one of the tournament’s dark horses, remains to be seen. With Newcastle watching him in midweek, no one should be surprised if the Magpies could come calling again in January.
Per TV2, Manchester City, Manchester United, Bournemouth and West Ham also sent scouts to Denmark in midweek.
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