Kirkland prefers Baggies move to Celtic

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is still set to join West Brom on loan from Liverpool despite late interest in the player from Celtic.

The 24-year-old’s agent Colin Gordon has revealed Hoops boss Gordon Strachan was also keen on taking the former Coventry man on loan.

However, Kirkland felt staying in England gave him the best chance of claiming a place in England’s 2006 World Cup finals squad, should they qualify.

“Celtic are pushing really, really hard and Chris still has a very high regard for Gordon Strachan,” Gordon told the West Midlands Express and Star.

“They worked together at Coventry and he still calls him ‘gaffer’. But Chris feels Albion and the Premiership is the place to be. He is a little concerned Scotland means ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

“He wants to prove to the football world he is fit again and ready to re-establish himself, not just in the Premiership but as an England goalkeeper.

“There is a World Cup a year down the line and that is still very much in his thoughts.”