Craig Beattie takes another big step

CELTIC youngster Craig Beattie has staked his claim to be the successor to departed Parkhead legend Henrik Larsson.

Beattie came on as a second-half substitute to strike a classy winner in the Scottish champions' 2-1 victory over Manchester United in Philadelphia on Wednesday night to take his tally on the club's US tour to four goals in three games.

"Everybody talks about Henrik going but we've all known that for a long time," Beattie said. "He made his mind up he was going to go and there was never any doubt he wasn't going to change his mind. There's loads of contenders, lots of strikers around at the club and somebody is going to have go in and do the job he's been doing.

"I've been given the chance already and I've got a few goals so far but the transfer window's still open and there's still a chance someone could come in.

"Only the manager can make his mind up on that one. But I'm here working hard and pushing for a place."

Scoring the winner against Manchester United on Wednesday at the Lincoln Financial Field will have done his prospects no harm.

Beattie put his speed and direct approach to good use when he latched onto a pass down the right touchline from Chris Sutton as Celtic launched a quick counter-attack from the edge of their penalty area.

He rode a challenge from last man Roy Keane and then tucked the ball under Tim Howard from an acute angle as the goalkeeper rushed off his line to intercept.

The 71st-minute goal broke the deadlock created in the 35th minute when United new boy Alan Smith cancelled out a ninth-minute Sutton penalty kick with a header from a Christopher Eagles corner.

"It was a tough game," Beattie said. "They gave us a bit of a doing to be honest when we played them here in the States last year but I think we managed to give a fairly good account of ourselves this year."

Beattie's strike followed a double in the 4-2 defeat to Chelsea in Seattle last Saturday and his side's only goal, a penalty, in the 5-1 drubbing by Liverpool in East Hartford, Connecticut, on Monday night.

Big things are expected of Beattie and the 6ft tall striker is sure to add to his four starts and 14 substitute appearances earned last season.

The United game marked the return to the dugout of manager Martin O'Neill, who had stayed at home in Scotland with his sick wife. Right-hand man John Robertson and coach Steve Walford were left in charge of affairs in his absence.

O'Neill flew into Philadelphia a few hours before kick-off, though, and Beattie was glad to have him back - especially after two demoralising defeats in the space of three days which had the Scottish press proclaiming a crisis at Celtic Park.

"It's always good to have the manager around although, when Stevie and John were in charge, everyone was trying just as hard because we know it will all get back to the manager.

"There have been constant phone calls. In pre-season it's all about working hard and getting your fitness and getting your confidence up and thankfully I've managed to do that so far.

"The boys are pretty cheery in the dressing room. Chelsea are world class and Liverpool will be pushing for the Premiership this year so we've been playing against a different class. It's been a great experience."

O'Neill was equally pleased with what he had seen on his return.

"Craig came on and scored a wonderful goal," O'Neill said. "He gave us that little bit of energy and that little bit of drive that perhaps maybe we've lacked with the temperatures and the number of games we've played in reasonably quick succession. I thought he gave us that extra determination. This has been a great experience for him."

Despite Alex Ferguson's experimentation with new and young players, the United boss admitted he had bowed to public pressure Stateside to play more of United's top drawer stars in tomorrow's showcase against AC Milan at the Giants Stadium in New York.

Paul Scholes and Mikael Silvestre flew to New York yesterday in order to face the Italian champions in a bid to appease supporters.

"I have had to do this reluctantly," Ferguson told www.manutd.com. "But we have suffered a lot of criticism because of the team we played against Bayern Munich. We made a big impact in America last year on tour and we want to enhance that.

"We have had to take this step now for the sake of our reputation in the States. Last year we captured a lot of people's minds with our football and we do not now want them to think we take them for granted."