O’Neill not bowled over by unfit Amoroso

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill admitted he was far from bowled over after watching striker Marcio Amoroso in action for the first time yesterday – but refused to rule out a move for the Brazilian.

Amoroso has spent the week training at Parkhead in the hope of earning a move to the Scottish champions as they search for a worthy replacement for Henrik Larsson.

Other commitments meant O'Neill had not had the opportunity to watch his potential transfer target in action until yesterday morning when he arranged a practice match with other first team players.

Amoroso's E 24.6 million move to Borussia Dortmund turned sour when he picked up a serious knee problem and he was released by the Bundesliga side last month for failing to return to the club after receiving treatment for the injury in the United States.

O'Neill who is still hopeful of landing Amoroso's countryman Rivaldo says he was not surprised by the striker's lack of fitness and he expects to hold talks with the player's representatives later today.

O'Neill said: "We organised a bit of a game with him and the players today and I think he enjoyed that and he did okay. He has cost a lot of money in the past so he must be a good player and that is why we wanted to have a look at him.

"He didn't do too badly but has had a lengthy injury and is seriously lacking fitness and all things need to be considered."

As well as his injury problems, O'Neill is also fully aware of Amoroso's acrimonious departure from Dortmund and saidinsists Celtic would "do their homework" before even contemplating offering him a deal.

Celtic midfielder Neil Lennon said insists the capture of Rivaldo would go down as one of the greatest signings of all time at Parkhead.

And the Irishman saidadmits he would even dig deep into his own pockets to watch the Brazilian superstar play in the east end of Glasgow next season.

HeLennon said: "If Rivaldo came here it would be one of the best in the club's history. If we got him, it would be a major coup and I would pay the admission fee myself to see him play here.

"He has great pedigree and he would be a great player to play alongside."

Meanwhile Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's agent has insisted the Norwegian striker will not be leaving Manchester United for Celtic this summer.

Solskjaer has been linked with a stg£3million close-season move to the Scottish champions after an injury-hit campaign has seen him make just 17 appearances for United.

Solskjaer's agent Jim Solbakken described talk about a move by the United player to Celtic as "just nonsense".