Newcastle United youngster Freddie Woodman is a ‘talented boy’ and could thrive at Celtic, his former Kilmarnock coach Billy Thompson has told the Glasgow Times.
While one Southampton loanee has returned for a second spell at Parkhead, it feels increasingly unlikely that Fraser Forster will be sharing a dressing room with Moi Elyounoussi when 2020/21 gets underway.
The England international produced a series of incredible virtuoso performances for a double-winning Celtic side and, as a result, it seems that the Saints are ready to offer Forster a fresh start at St Mary’s.
Finding a replacement for the finest shot-stopper in Scotland, then, will be easier said than done.
Though 23-year-old Woodman, who has been linked via the Chronicle, has a proven track record north of the border with a superb spell at Kilmarnock in 2016/17 still fresh in the memory of everyone in Ayrshire.
“If Celtic do come in for him, then I think that Freddie has the temperament to handle it. You need to have a strong mentality, and Freddie has that, no doubt about it,” Killie goalkeeping coach Thompson explains.
“I think what really struck me about Freddie was that he was so down to earth. He listened to what you had to say, and he wanted to learn.
“Plus, he was a talented boy. His kicking was good, his distribution and his handling too. He had a real enthusiasm for the game, and you could tell that he really wanted to make it.
“His general attitude was excellent. He was a good trainer, but he also liked a laugh and a carry on as we all did while working hard. You could see that this was a talented boy.”
Thompson is convinced that Woodman, a penalty-saving specialist who’s spot-kick heroics inspired England to glory at the U20 World Cup three years ago, would benefit immensely from working alongside the ‘excellent’ goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods at Celtic.
And if he can replicate his inspired form at Swansea during his latest loan spell, then Forster’s boots could be filled quite nicely.
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