Hedman loaned out to Ancona

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill tonight confirmed he has allowed out-of-favour goalkeeper Magnus Hedman (pictured) join Italian side Ancona on loan until the end of the season.

The Swedish international has not started since their Champions League defeat in Lyon, when he was singled out for blame and as a result lost his place to Scotland’s Robert Douglas.

But with Euro 2004 looming, the former Coventry number one persuaded O’Neill to let him join Italian Serie A strugglers Ancona.

“Magnus wanted to go on loan because he felt that his chances of first-team football may have been limited here at the moment and his position in the Swedish national side could be under threat,” explained O’Neill.

“After due consideration, I agreed to the loan.”

The move followed the news O’Neill was running the rule over two trialists in the form of Australian goalkeeper Danny Milosevic and American striker Jamil Walker.

Milosevic, 25, was released by Leeds while former San Jose Earthquakes frontman Walker, 22, is looking for a big chance in Britain.

O’Neill the club’s official website, www.celticfc.net: “Both lads are here for a few days’ training and we’ll obviously have a proper look at them before deciding anything.”

Meanwhile, O’Neill has vowed to keep defender John Kennedy at the club.

After an impressive display in the win at Aberdeen when Kennedy replaced African Nations Cup-bound Bobo Balde, the Hoops’ boss is determined to thrash out a new deal for the 20-year-old.

O’Neill said: “His contract is obviously up at the end of the season and we would always have been looking to get things sorted out as soon as possible in any case.

“We certainly want him to stay and, if he continues to play to the standard of Saturday’s performance, he’ll have a big future here.

“The fact he slotted in so comfortably in the absence of big Bobo, who’s been a real stalwart for us over recent seasons, did him immense credit.”

O’Neill is also set for discussions with another defender after Stanislav Varga triggered an extension clause in his contract by playing his 30th game for Celtic at Pittodrie, and also with striker Shaun Maloney.