Scottish Premiership champions Celtic reportedly want to bring former youth teamer Stephen O’Donnell back to Parkhead from Kilmarnock.
The idea of working alongside James Forrest at Celtic will surely appeal to Stephen O’Donnell.
According to the Scottish Sun, Neil Lennon could make a move to bring the 27-year-old defender to Parkhead if he is given the Celtic job on a full-time basis at the end of the season.
And Kilmarnock are tempted to cash in on one of their most important players given that they have failed to tie O’Donnell down to a new long-term contract. His current deal expires in 2020.
The right-back spent two years at Celtic in his younger days, playing for the club’s academy from 2009 to 2011 before joining Partick Thistle, and one of his former team-mates clearly made a lasting impression on O’Donnell.
Speaking to the Evening Times in 2018, the Scotland international recalled playing alongside a fresh-faced James Forrest pre-season tournament and he was immediately blown away by the young winger’s potential.
“I thought: ‘He’s different gravy. If he doesn’t do well in football there’s something far wrong,” O’Donnell said.
“I was just giving him the ball and looking good playing a five-yard pass. I was the water-carrier. I just gave him the ball and he did the rest.
“There’s no envy of James as a person, just admiration for how well he’s done and how consistent he’s been for Celtic over the years.”
Forrest was arguably the most influential attacking player anywhere in the Scottish Premiership last season and O’Donnell could be tempted by the idea of linking up with his former youth team colleague once again on the right-hand side of Celtic’s attack.
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