Scott McDonald, who scored 31 goals in his debut season for Celtic, has warned the club that they need at least two proven goalscorers this summer to mount a title challenge. Speaking exclusively to Record Sport, the former Hoops striker said the intense pressure at Parkhead requires a specific mentality that many forwards fail to handle.
McDonald's Debut Season: A Benchmark
Signed for £700,000 from Motherwell in 2007, McDonald netted 31 goals in his first campaign, helping Celtic secure a third consecutive league title and erase the pain of Helicopter Sunday. He went on to score 63 goals in two and a half years for his boyhood club. Nearly two decades later, manager Martin O'Neill is searching for a new goalscoring hero, with Qarabag's Camilo Duran emerging as a prime target after five Champions League goals last season.
With Kelechi Iheanacho gone and Daizen Maeda expected to follow, McDonald believes one striker is not enough. "I think it's always important when you're a Celtic or Rangers that you have a 20-plus goalscorer in your team," he said. "Across the front line is where Martin is certainly going to be looking seriously. They need at least two nines and more attacking players."
The Mental Challenge of Playing for Celtic
McDonald, who formed a lethal partnership with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, highlighted the mental toughness required. "It's definitely a mindset. Every time you miss, it's scrutinised completely. Some thrive under the pressure, some don't," he said. He pointed to Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu as recent examples of Bundesliga imports who struggled. "For every Kyogo, Gary Hooper or myself, there's been three or four that have failed."
McDonald stressed the importance of being in the right areas. "You've got to realise that and understand where you need to be rather than doing all the things that maybe you were doing somewhere else because the chances will come."
What Celtic Need This Summer
McDonald urged the club to be shrewd in the market. "Celtic have been quite astute in the market in years gone by. Could they do it again? Potentially. But it's not going to be just one. They need more than one option up there."
He also referenced young talents Johnny Kenny and Callum Osmand but cautioned against relying on them too soon. "To ask him to lead the line now, is it fair on him? Probably not." McDonald concluded that while 20 goals is a benchmark, winning the league is the ultimate measure. "You can score your goals, but it's also everything else that you bring to the team."
