O'Neill tells Henchoz to follow Varga's lead

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has challenged new signing Stephane Henchoz to follow Stanislav Varga’s example and turn himself from bit-part player to first-choice pick.

The Swiss international has joined until the end of the season after negotiating a release from Liverpool, who had deemed him surplus to requirements.

His lack of match fitness means he is unlikely to go straight into the Celtic side and in any case O’Neill has established pair Bobo Balde and Varga to choose from.

But O’Neill recalled Varga’s unheralded arrival from Sunderland, where he too had been regarded as a player they could afford to let go.

He said: “He came here and only played two games that year, one being the last one. He got a contract the following year and has been absolutely fantastic. So much so that he is part of the furniture.

“Stephane has the pedigree behind him and the rest is up to him.”

Balde’s contract expires in the summer and he is likely to be able to move to a Barclays Premiership side should he so wish.

That would open the door yet wider for Henchoz but O’Neill had not given up hope of persuading Balde to stay at Parkhead.

He said: “We are in the throes of trying to keep Bobo Balde at the football club. It made no appreciable difference to Stephane at all. He was prepared to come in and battle, break into the side, stay there and play well.

“I would rather he supplemented the squad. Obviously Bobo’s situation has not been resolved as we speak but this signing has nothing to do with that. I would dearly want Bobo Balde to stay at this football club.”

Henchoz had been wanted by Rangers to replace Jean-Alain Boumsong but they decided on recruiting Sotirios Kyrgiakos from Panathinaikos instead.

Bolton remained keen on Henchoz but he plumped for Parkhead. He said: “It was a big opportunity and I didn’t want to miss it.”

Henchoz had been left out of the Liverpool team for all but four games since the arrival of Rafael Benitez as manager and the defender felt he had been hard done by.

He said: “He did not really give me a chance but fortunately it is in the past. I had five great years there. The last six months were very difficult but now I can just forget that and concentrate on Celtic and the future.”