Strachan backs Hartson to lead attack

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has assured John Hartson he plans to keep him as the focal point of the Hoops attack.

The Welshman enjoyed a fine campaign last season, netting 30 times and picking up a host of player of the year awards.

Strachan has been busy signing strikers since succeeding Martin O’Neill however, with Maciej Zurawski and Jeremie Aliadiere having been recruited.

That led to speculation that Hartson’s time could be up at Parkhead and he was linked with a move to Blackburn.

But Strachan insisted: “He is the goalscorer. No matter what you say about John, his goals are phenomenal.

“What we have to do is make sure he gets enough supply because the more ball he gets the more goals John will score.

“Selling John is something that has never come into my thoughts. You can never have enough strikers.”

Strachan signed Hartson when he was manager at Coventry and ended up regretting it – but only because of the timing of the move.

He said: “I look back to that season at Coventry and think that if I had managed to sign him earlier he would have kept us in the Premiership.”

Meanwhile, another of Strachan’s former Coventry players does seem to be nearing the end of his time at Celtic.

Goalkeeper Magnus Hedman, who has seen Poland international Artur Boruc join the club, is close to a return to Sweden with AIK Stockholm.