Gordon Strachan says Kris Commons could prove difference for Celtic in tight title race

Saying he was a player he would have been happy to take on had he still be boss at the Old Firm side, he added that the former Derby County attacker, who completed his switch to Glasgow yesterday, could fulfil a number of roles within the team.

"I like him, he can play anywhere in the middle of the park and he can play off the front man, he can beat people and he can make his own goals," said the man who guided Celtic to three league titles during his four-year stint at Parkhead. "You are getting somebody who can play in different positions."

Strachan, who was in Scotland yesterday to support the unveiling of the Lloyds TSB Scotland U18 Scottish Schoolboys squad for 2011, has witnessed first hand the qualities the current Scotland international can bring to a game while manager at Middlesbrough earlier in the campaign. Commons, who has 14 goals in total this season, netted two of them in a 3-1 victory when the sides met at Pride Park in September and Strachan believes he will take that goal threat into his Celtic displays.

"I have seen him closely this year and that's for sure. He has a good eye for goal and although he is not the quickest, he has a nice wee change of pace. He is a bit like that guy Andy Reid when he was going really well at Sunderland, he can score spectacular goals and score goals out of nothing which is handy when you are playing in tight games."

And Strachan is sure that Commons will find it easy enough to adapt to life and the expectation levels at an Old Firm club after serving a decent apprenticeship in English football's second tier.

"The Championship is not a bad league and sometimes we talk about Scottish football but we have 73 Scottish players playing down there, players who played in the Scottish Premier League. There are good players out there and now."

Having watched Celtic thump Hearts 4-0 at Parkhead on Wednesday night, and admitting to also being impressed by the Rangers performances he has taken in this term, Strachan believes the title chase will continue to be neck and neck all the way to the end.

"Scott Brown said to me that it's who has the biggest bollocks and that is typical Browny and I wouldn't necessarily say that but there are two teams out there and sometimes it's just the team that gets a wee bit of a break or if a team gets injuries, but I think this year will be a very good league."

Believing there to be very little between the sides, it could be the ability of Commons to turn those tight games and transform draws into wins which could distinguish between the rivals when the curtain falls.