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News
‘Unbelievable ability’: Pat Bonner says Celtic have a player who is just as ‘intelligent’ as Billy Stark
Celtic have a squad brimming with players that have bags of skill, quality and potential.
From project players like Marco Tilio to seasoned professionals such as Callum McGregor, there are players in the squad that have a diverse range of abilities that can, and eventually will, make a huge contribution to Brendan Rodgers‘ side.
However, there is one player that Pat Bonner believes is just as good as former Celtic midfielder, Billy Stark.
Bonner said that Matt O’Riley has the same qualities as Stark and that the 22-year-old midfielder is just as ‘intelligent’ as the now Scotland u19 boss.
Bonner said [], “You could probably compare him in my day to Billy Stark.
“Billy had an unbelievable ability to arrive in the box at the right time. He ghosted in there.
“He made runs and he could play in the middle of the pitch. He was a good player, an intelligent player but the understanding of the timing of those runs and knowing to always have a feeling that the ball is going to come in there, so it’s not a wasted run.
“And invariably that’s how you get your goals and you come in on the blind side and that’s what he did today, Matt O’Riley.”
Celtic fans of a certain vintage will remember the contribution Stark made at Celtic during his three years at the club.
Stark scored 17 goals in 64 league appearances for Celtic and won two Scottish Cups and a league title. Remarkably, he was never capped for Scotland despite scoring 127 career goals in over 500 appearances in the Scottish leagues and being part of an Aberdeen side that won the UEFA Super Cup against Hamburg in 1983.
The former Hoops midfielder also had a spell as Celtic’s Assistant Manager under the late, great Tommy Burns where they were both charged with stopping Rangers’ surge for nine-in-a-row.
Despite assembling a hugely talented squad, Burns and Stark just couldn’t get their title bid over the line. However, Stark was a legend within the Scottish game.
And whilst he didn’t quite reach legendary status at Parkhead, the supporters will always regard Billy Stark as one of the most talented midfielders to ever pull on the green and white hoops.
In other news, 96 touches, 100% ground duels won: 25-year-old Celtic player surely nailed on to start against Atletico now