Celtic great '˜has had enough of Carlton Cole and Kazim-Richards'
The former Parkhead idol said he would far rather see home-reared talent get its chance than players such as Cole and Kazim-Richards who have proved ineffectual since arriving in mid-season, scoring just a single league goal between them and one goal each in the Scottish Cup.
Nicholas was impressed by 16-year-old Jack Aitchison who scored with his first touch on his debut on Sunday against Motherwell.
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Hide AdThe former Celtic and Arsenal striker said: “I’ve had enough of Carlton Cole and Colin Kazim-Richards – they don’t bring anything to the party, they don’t add anything to the fabric of this club.
“I want to see the younger strikers developed and if they’re not good enough then they’re not good enough.”
Nicholas made his Celtic debut in the early 1980s at 17 and was an immediate success.
“I remember having a fear and a worry that I might get found out but I eventually played against Stirling Albion and scored twice. Looking at the young lad, Jack, he just went for it. The next step is where that goal he scored can take him. And you should write off nothing. I haven’t seen much of the lad but I know people who have seen him and they say he’s got a chance. Now what is a chance? Well, people can go and spend big money on a striker and the boy finds he’s suffocated a little bit. But it can take you anywhere, getting that one chance. I was 17 and all of a sudden I lost the fear I had, it just went. I embraced it and all I’d say to every kid who comes in here is look at the players beside them and ask questions.”