Celtic close in on Broto

Celtic are on the verge of signing Livingston star Javier Sanchez Broto as emergency goalkeeping cover.

Manager Martin O’Neill has moved quickly with numbers in that position reaching crisis point with concern again over Magnus Hedman.

Broto, the 31-year-old former Malaga and Airdrie number one, is contracted to the end of the season but Livingston chairman Dominic Keane said recently he would be willing to let him move this month.

Now it appears the Spaniard is set to leave Almondvale for a destination beyond his wildest dreams.

“He’s having a medical at Celtic Park,” confirmed Livingston manager Jim Leishman.

“He’s been a good servant to Livingston but we must look forward now.”

The loss of Broto would leave Livingston short on goalkeeping cover ahead of their Scottish Cup tie at home to Dunfermline.

Leishman confirmed Scotland Under-21 international David McEwan will make his first start if the deal goes through.

He said: “We are short for Saturday, that’s for sure.”

Broto is unlikely to make a dream debut this weekend as Hedman declared himself fit to face St Mirren on Saturday.

The Sweden international goalkeeper caused a huge scare in the Celtic camp when he pulled out of last night’s benefit match for the Lisbon Lions after feeling a spasm in his problem groin.

Youngster David Marshall was forced into action with Robert Douglas recovering from a hernia and Jonathan Gould’s recent departure.

But the former Coventry City number one expects to be fit in time for the start of Celtic’s Tennent’s Scottish Cup campaign.

Hedman said: “I felt a bit of tightness in my groin and spoke to the doctor. He thought we would be as well leaving it because there was no point taking any chances before Saturday’s game.

“I wouldn’t really say it was an injury, more a precaution.

“The situation with the goalkeepers just now, with Rab injured, influenced the decision before the game because we have a competitive match at the weekend.

“The main thing for me is to be fit on Saturday, to have a good game and then keep it going.

“We are involved in four competitions and are all aiming high for the second half of the season.”

But despite the imminent arrival of Broto, Hedman praised his 17-year-old stand-in Marshall, who complemented his appearance at Wycombe with his first start for the senior side.

“I thought he did all right,” said the Swede. “There wasn’t anything he could do about the goals and he looked solid in the things he did. It was a great learning experience for him.”

Jon Paul McGovern has returned from a loan spell with Sheffield United this week with an admission that his future at Celtic Park is still no clearer.

Despite impressing during his six-month stint, with Blades manager Neil Warnock anxious to keep him, the 22-year-old winger has been recalled and is currently training with Celtic’s under-21 squad.

McGovern said: “I’m training with the under-21s again and all I can do is wait and see what happens.

“It goes without saying that I’ll be disappointed if I’m not brought into the first-team squad but that’s not my call. I’m just waiting to hear what the manager has to say.

“I feel ready for it, though. The experience I gained at Bramall Lane has certainly made me a better player.”

Although he would love nothing more than to make the grade at Celtic Park, McGovern admitted his recall could hardly have come at a worse time.

McGovern was denied the opportunity of facing Liverpool for the Nationwide League Division One side in the Worthington Cup semi-final.

He found that hard to take, but is backing his former team-mates to make the step up into the Premiership.

McGovern added: “It was certainly an exciting time to be at the club. I loved every minute of it.

“Hopefully now they can go on and win promotion. I definitely believe they are capable of doing that.

“It’s a tough league though and everyone is capable of beating everyone else. But I think they will be in the Premiership next season.”