One-time Celtic defender Jack Hendry seemed surprised to learn that Jupiler League rival Thomas Henry could be joining the Premiership giants in a deal worth £7 million, while speaking to the Sun.
After all, it is not as if the Scotland international saw much to get excited about during his two top-flight clashes with Henry’s OH Leuven last season.
The late-blooming striker failed to score in both of his meetings with KV Oostende, not impressing against a defender who never came close to nailing down a regular starting berth at Parkhead.
Then again, it would be unfair to judge Henry on the back of two off-days, some three months apart.
The former Nantes forward produced 21 goals and seven assists during a career-best 2020/21 campaign and, while he didn’t give Hendry too many problems, there are plenty of Jupiler League centre-halves who would gladly see the back of him.
Would £7m Thomas Henry be worth the money for Celtic?
“If that’s the fee, then it’s a lot of money Celtic are paying,” Hendry said when asked about a man who could become the second-biggest signing in the history of the Hoops.
“I’ve played against him a couple of times and he didn’t get any joy out of me. I felt I dominated him.”
Henry has been likened to Jamie Vardy by some, although we can’t for the life of us figure out why. Maybe because OH Leuven are Leicester City’s Belgium-based sister club – a lazy comparison between two men with the number nine on their back.
Henry, at 6ft 4ins and hardly blessed with searing pace, offers something very different in the final third to the jet-heeled Vardy after all.
“Henry’s a goal-scorer, for sure. He’s not someone who is amazingly quick. I don’t see him as a striker who will run in behind or go down the channels,” Hendry added.
“He hasn’t got lightning pace (but) he’s got good stature, a good physique. I see him as more like an English penalty box striker.
“For £7m, the Celtic fans will be expecting a very good player coming through the doors — and I’d certainly wish him the best.
“As a defender you wouldn’t be concerned with a one-v-one. But his hold up play is good and he’s a handful in the box. He can finish. Those are his main attributes.
“If he gets the service, and I’m sure he will with the calibre of players who create chances at Celtic, he can get the goals.”
According to Het Nieuwsblad, Celtic cannot secure a deal for Hendry until they find someone willing to take Odsonne Edouard off their hands.
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