Celtic target Lafferty

Celtic have made a bid for Burnley's 19-year-old striker Kyle Lafferty.

It is understood that the Parkhead club tabled an offer for the Northern Ireland international at lunchtime today.

Lafferty, from Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, stands 6ft 4in and is regarded as the natural long-term successor to James Quinn for the national side.

Although still a teenager, he has already picked up seven senior caps and in August he scored his first goal for his country during the team's friendly against Finland in Helsinki.

Northern Ireland head coach Lawrie Sanchez has singled Lafferty out as one for the future.

He said: "Kyle has got a lot going for him, he's one of a rare breed with a physical presence.

"He's a big lad and we don't have too many of them."

Lafferty arrived at Turf Moor as an apprentice in 2004.

At the beginning of the 2005/2006 season he went out on loan to Darlington to gain experience and during his period there, he scored three goals in nine appearances.

After being promoted to Burnley's first team squad during the 2005/06 pre-season campaign he capped a whirlwind first year as a professional with a call-up to the full Northern Ireland squad for their two-match summer tour of the USA, winning his first cap against Uruguay in New York.