Strachan backs Loovens to become top-class defender

Published on Tuesday 19 August 2008 22:06

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan believes he can mould Glenn Loovens' raw talent and help develop him into a top-class defender.

Loovens opted to join the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions over Old Firm rivals Rangers when he agreed a 2.5million move from Championship side, Cardiff City.

Strachan feels the 25-year-old has yet to reach his peak and is confident he will achieve that at Parkhead. "Glenn is at a good age and is years away from his peak," Strachan said. "What we have got to do is prepare him for his peak, get him ready to play at this level and to do well in the Champions League.

"He'll gain experience and hopefully get better and better. It would be great if we had 20million to spend but, if I did, Glenn wouldn't be sitting here, it'd be Rio Ferdinand.

"But we have a certain amount of money and this gives us our chance to develop our own players and that's exciting and is good for us.

"We got close to him in the tournament in Portugal and we realised he's vocal as well. He likes to be part of the defensive unit, there's plenty there to work with."

While Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell have been Strachan's first choice centre-half pairing, Loovens is confident he can force his way into the team.

He said: "I've come here and I want to play so it's up to me now to do well and give the manager a problem.

"I spoke to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and also to Pierre van Hooijdonk and he told me a few stories about Celtic. I only heard great stories so I can't wait to get started."

Strachan revealed he has no set ideas of what his strongest team is yet and added: "What we're trying to do is develop as a group to be ready to play at any time. We'll have a group of centre-halves, a group of full-backs and I do not have a set team in my mind." Rangers had been keen to bring Loovens to Ibrox but their bid fell short of Cardiff's valuation.

But Loovens said: "In the beginning, there was only Rangers, but in the end Celtic were the club I wanted to play for."

Should Loovens make his debut against Falkirk on Saturday, he will do so in front of Celtic's greatest centre-back, Billy McNeill, who will be guest of honour to mark the 50th anniversary of his first appearance for the club.