Speaking exclusively with BOYLE Sports , former Republic of Ireland forward Kevin Doyle has given his assessment of the Scottish Premiership title race and if former boss Martin O'Neill can get the club over the line in-spite of their troubles this season.
The former Wolves striker has also spoken about his former club's recent improvement in form and his perspective on the futures of Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matt Doherty in January and in the coming months if the club are to be relegated as expected.
Are Celtic Title Favourites?
We're still in January, and there's a lot of football to come, but Martin O’Neill has been there and done it at Celtic ; he gets everyone singing from the same hymn sheet. The six-point lead, that could be gone in a week. Play two games in a week and all of a sudden, it's not nailed on for Celtic , but they have a fabulous chance.
I'd be fairly confident. He's that type of manager who gets players onside, and confidence is such an overlooked thing. People think it's boring, his tactics, and this, that, and the other. Man management and confidence, he definitely can do it, Martin , and put confidence into a player. Yeah, I can see them having a great run at it.
Johnny Kenny
Johnny Kenny didn't get much of a chance under Brendan Rodgers . He's a young player who needs a goal or two, and when you're a striker, and you get a goal or two like that, your world changes. You instantly think the world is great again, everything's great, and I can do anything. So he'd have the right manager to do that for him.
For Ireland , there are a few strikers sort of bubbling under now. We've been waiting for a few years, and we've had a nice bit of talent coming through. I don't think he's Evan Ferguson or Troy Parrott, but he's at a big club and has a chance to make a name for himself.
Will Johnny Kenny Be Successful With Celtic?
Wolves
Improving Wolves
I have been watching them in the last few weeks, and then you look at the points they have, and you think, 'you know what, maybe they've got a chance. But then you look at the points and go, ' never, it doesn't matter what they do.' But it's really important. I've been in that position with Wolves , and you get relegated. But if they keep playing well, the atmosphere around the club, around the manager, around the players, while they get relegated, will help them get up next season.
It's so hard to come back up when you've been relegated, because everyone's on a downer, especially if it happens in the last week or two of the season, and you had hoped you were going to stay up, and then you get relegated. It's such a negative thing. But they sort of basically know they're going to be relegated, they're planning for it, plus they're starting to play well. You know, there'll be a better vibe about the place. They'll go, 'Right, we're heading into next season in a good position.
So, Rob Edwards, that would be his thought process. Win a few games, be strong, be hard to beat, and get the fans onside again. Don't finish with the record least amount of points in the Premier League . Those are the things they aim for, and in the last few weeks, they have. They've put in some really good performances, they're really tough to play against, and the top teams have struggled against them.
So that's what he needs to continue on till May. Mathematically, they're not relegated, but it's very, very difficult. They've been relegated, but you just keep fighting away so that if they do go down next season, they're in a better place as a club psychologically starting off next season. If they continue this form, they'll go up automatically, probably win the league next season in the Championship . If they go down without a whimper, without a fight, and you can see the club is in turmoil, then they'll really, really struggle next year.
So, luckily for Rob Edwards , he didn't have the start he probably would have hoped for with them, but he's getting a tune out of them now, and he just needs to keep that up till the end of the season.
Transfer Talk
Jorgen Strand Larsen
There were a lot of players at Wolves last season who looked good for transfers, but it’s lucky for Matheus Cunha that he got his move when he did. He wouldn't be moving anywhere this season if he were still at Wolves , probably. He'd be like the rest of them. I saw Jorgen Strand Larsen l ast year, and he was great. Now he’s struggling, but I definitely think he has something. And I hope that he can reignite if he does go.
Everyone's always looking for a centre forward in January. Take a chance on a centre forward, get him reignited, and he might get a few goals. So I'm sure he'll have options if Wolves are happy to let him go.
Doherty's Future
I don't know his contract situation, but he's around 34, Matt's age. He knows the club; he's a very nice, genuine fellow, and I don't think he'd have a problem with staying and trying to help them get back up.
At 34, he's only got a couple of years left. He'd probably find more joy in staying at his club, getting them back to the Premier League . Maybe he'll be looking at retiring around 35, 36, 37, rather than just moving somewhere for the sake of playing for a year or two. He's had a very good career and earned plenty of money, I'm sure. Staying with Wolves and getting them promoted would give him a great feeling.
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