Celtic manager Ronny Deila believes new signing Colin Kazim-Richards can be a leader in the Parkhead dressing-room.
The 29-year-old joined Celtic from Feyenoord on Monday fresh from a two-week suspension by the Dutch club after a confrontation with a journalist.
The London-born Turkey international has had an eventful career which includes a conviction for making a homophobic gesture to supporters of Brighton, one of his former clubs.
Former Aberdeen and Brighton manager Mark McGhee once described him as “impossible to work with” but Deila, yesterday named manager of the month for January, is confident the forward will be a positive influence.
“Kazim is an experienced player who has qualities and can be a leader in the group,” said the Norwegian, who is unlikely to play Kazim-Richards or fellow newcomer Patrick Roberts against Aberdeen tonight.
“He’s not the first player I have had with issues. When you have cameras around you all the time, there are always things coming up.
“But I talked a lot with him and he’s motivated to play for Celtic. He’s going to be a very good signing.”
Celtic supporters are in need of excitement after Sunday’s League Cup semi-final defeat by Ross County and Deila can understand anger directed towards him.
But he believes his Premiership leaders can transform the mood among the Celtic support when they take on Aberdeen at Pittodrie, although they will be without central defender Jozo Simunovic, who is out for four to six weeks with a knee injury.