Beattie signs new Hoops deal

Celtic striker Craig Beattie has put pen to paper on a new three-year deal at the Parkhead club.

The 20-year-old has made a handful of first team appearances this season but has started just one game – the CIS Insurance Cup win over Partick which handed him his only goal so far this term.

The Hoops striker has watched as other young players at the club have quit Celtic for smaller clubs in a bid to play regular first team football.

But Beattie insists players like himself, Ross Wallace and Shaun Maloney have proved that manager Martin O’Neill is willing to give young players a chance of they are good enough.

Beattie said: “Celtic is a massive club and my aim is to get into the Celtic team and stay in it.

“To play for other clubs isn’t even in the back of my mind, I just want to do well for Celtic at the minute.

“The manager has brought Stephen Pearson in and Ross, Shaun and myself have all been involved so it’s encouraging to see that we’re getting a shot and all the boys are working hard and competing with each other to get into the team.

“I’ve just signed a new contract and I’m delighted about that.”