BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
JAMIE MACLAREN is adamant Socceroo starlet Daniel Arzani will ‘grow up’ at Celtic – and insists the teenager has the raw talent to thrive at Parkhead.
The duo were in the Australia squad together at this summer’s World Cup in Russia, with the 19-year-old turning in eye-catching displays against France, Denmark and Peru despite being the youngest player at the tournament.
That proved enough to earn a switch from Melbourne City to English Premier League champions – and City Group stablemates – Manchester City last week and he is set to be immediately farmed out on loan to Brendan Rodgers’ Bhoys in search of first-team football.
Maclaren has no doubt the Arzani faces an almighty step up in standard but believes the waspish winger will reap the benefits of working alongside the likes of Scott Brown at Celtic.
He said: “Daniel is a quality player. He is young and has only played a small amount of football, but I think he will grow up quickly. Being away from home and being at a club like Celtic, he will need to raise his standards.
“The standards were high at Melbourne, with them being part of the City Group, but he will be around guys like Scott Brown at Celtic who will push him on and let him know the expectations there.
“He needs that. I think he is the sort of player who needs big characters and he will do well with those guys around him – albeit hopefully not well against us!
“No, I wish him all the best. He is a young kid who just needs to be patient and learn his trade. It’s not going to be easy for him but I do think he has the ability.”
