Celtic legend Scott McDonald has urged the Hoops to sign Motherwell midfielder Elijah Just, drawing comparisons to club icon Stiliyan Petrov. Just, 26, has attracted significant interest after a standout season in Scottish football and a remarkable World Cup campaign with New Zealand, where he scored three goals, including a historic brace in a single match.
Just's Rise and Celtic Interest
Just has been monitored by Celtic scouts in recent months, with manager Martin O'Neill reportedly a fan. The playmaker's performances for Motherwell and New Zealand have made him a sought-after talent. Motherwell are expected to demand a club-record fee, surpassing the £4.7 million paid by Udinese for Lennon Miller last summer.
McDonald, who moved from Celtic to Motherwell in 2007, believes Just's ability to arrive in the box from midfield is reminiscent of Petrov. He told Record Sport: "Should Celtic push the button? Yes, absolutely. It's someone who plays in the league already and has proven on the world stage he can do it as well now."
Comparisons to Stiliyan Petrov
McDonald highlighted Just's knack for making forward runs without the ball, a rare trait in modern football. "The way he gets himself into the box from midfield positions, he's definitely a lot like Stiliyan. Midfielders who make forward runs without the ball are an endangered species because everyone likes to have the ball at their feet. But players that like to make runs in behind off the ball as midfielders, they're worth their weight in gold," McDonald said.
Just contributed 15 goals and assists last season, a statistic McDonald believes speaks for itself. "15-goal contribution tells you everything, right? So for me, if Celtic miss out, he's going to go big anyway. So absolutely Celtic should be looking at that," he added.
Celtic's Striker Search
Celtic are also pursuing Qarabag striker Camilo Duran as a potential replacement for Kelechi Iheanacho, whose contract expired. Iheanacho, 29, played a pivotal role in Celtic's late Double triumph, scoring crucial winners against Motherwell, Hibs, and Dundee. However, he has yet to receive a new offer from the champions.
McDonald understands Celtic's hesitation, citing fitness and wage concerns. "Am I surprised he's not signed? I'm in two ways of thinking on that. There were a lot of injuries in that period he was at the club. Yes, he had that impact at the end of the season. He couldn't start games though. So is that because the body is failing him? Or because he wasn't fit enough?"
McDonald acknowledged Iheanacho's experience and composure under pressure, but noted the business perspective. "His experience is second to none. But we just don't know the full ends of how the body is and how much money he was going to cost them. That's always what it's going to come down to from a business perspective," he concluded.
