BENJI SIEGRIST won't settle for a back-up role at Celtic according to a former coach who claims he'll challenge Joe Hart for the No1 spot.
The ex-Dundee United keeper made a free transfer move to Celtic yesterday to join Hart and Scott Bain as goalkeeping options for Ange Postecoglou.
And while Hart has been handed the No1 jersey in the off-season, Siegrist's former coach Stevie Frail reckons the Swiss stopper will challenge for the position.
Frail - who worked at Celtic and Dundee United - insists Siegrist has what it takes to perform for Celtic both with talent and attitude.
And he reckons Siegrist will push Hart to be first-choice keeper for the coming season and in turn drive the standards up among the goalkeeping cohort at Parkhead.
Speaking to the Scottish Sun, Frail explained: “Benji will go there with the mentality he’s good enough to play for Celtic — and I think that’s precisely the attitude you need if you’re going to a club of that magnitude.
“He’s got the desire to play at the highest level possible.
“His target will be to get the jersey. He will push Joe Hart all the way to be No 1.
“Hart is an excellent keeper with a tremendous pedigree and someone like Benji — a really good professional — could well push him to perform at an even greater level.
“That, of course, would only benefit Celtic, while there’s also another good keeper there in Scott Bain. Benji’s been in Scotland long enough. He’ll know the history and size of Celtic. And he’s still only 30.
“He won’t be satisfied with being a back-up goalie there, I’m sure that Siegrist will stake his claim to be first choice for Ange Postecoglou."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here