Timothy Weah: Celtic's new fan favourite is making an impact
Celtic travel to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, live on Sky Sports
Sunday 17 February 2019 15:23, UK
Timothy Weah made a surprise move to Celtic in January, on loan from PSG, but has quickly installed himself as a fan favourite. Ahead of Celtic's trip to Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership live on Sky Sports, we look at his early impact in Scotland.
There have been eyes on Timothy Weah for a few years now. After all, he comes from strong football stock, with his dad being former striker and current Liberian president, George Weah. He is also signed to one of the richest clubs in the world - Paris Saint-Germain.
At the moment, though, the 18-year-old is lighting up the football pitches of Scotland after joining Celtic on a six-month loan deal in January and he was ecstatic about the move, telling Sky Sports News: "Right now for the six months I am a Celtic player and that is all I am going to think about and fight for - to get wins, potentially to win something with Celtic. Hopefully [I'll] get great relationships out of this and learn… I am so excited to be a bhoy and part of the Celtic family."
He has made a brilliant start too, scoring in his first two appearances against Airdrie in the Scottish Cup and St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership plus another against St Johnstone in the league. He also assisted in the latter - a 2-0 win - setting up James Forrest's opener.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the victory, manager Brendan Rodgers said: "Timothy came on and made a huge impact, as he can do because he's a wonderful kid. He comes in, creates a goal, sets up a goal and his movement's good.
"That's why we made the moves in the window, we knew we needed to get that impact either from the bench or just freshen it up and Timothy gives us that. He's got great enthusiasm for the game and very natural in his play."
Weah has also played in all eight Celtic games since he arrived - two as a starter and six as a substitute - as he continues to find his feet, with Charlie Nicholas impressed with his impact from the bench and has likened him to a former Arsenal striker.
"He has looked lively and is quick, especially in that role at PSG. He has enthusiasm and he is trying to make his own reputation in the game, even if he isn't as good as whichever relative played before him, but everyone will start to question that," the Soccer Saturday pundit said.
"I think he is more of an impact player, he wants to be involved in the play and get behind players. When Celtic have it, they sit rather deep, so that's the type of game that he isn't familiar with. He has been impressive but more impressive coming off the bench and is able to utilise his pace.
"Teams are liable to the counter-attack and he got the second goal against St Johnstone as a result. His celebration told me everything, of happiness and joy, which suggests he really wants to be here.
"He has some good assets there though, especially speed. He is being put in the shop window, but he is getting the experience that PSG are not giving to him. There will be a load of interested clubs that are looking at him.
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"He reminds me of when Nicholas Anelka first came into the Arsenal side - the speed and desire to get in with the markers, he reminds me a bit of that. Anelka was a better player but the confidence he will get from Celtic having so much of the ball as well as the support.
"The Celtic fans make some noise for the ones who make an effort and do their bit for the club, so he will thrive from that. It is looking well but I want to see him develop, I want to see his link-up play a bit better and if he can do that then you can question why he is not getting started."
But will it just be a fleeting love affair between Weah and Celtic? There are only a few people who can answer that, but Rodgers was giving nothing away when asked recently.
He told the Daily Record: "He's 18, so depending on how that goes, there's maybe a possibility of extending that but I don't like to talk too much, it's a wee bit disrespectful to the team we bring them from because what happens is there's a headline out there that says: 'We want to buy...
"The relationship is good with PSG through Odsonne Edouard and some of the other players that we have spoken about to them, so let's see how it goes and then we'll review it with the club and him and his family at the end of it all.
"I am sure they will take him back next pre-season and have another look and they will decide where his next stage is if it's not there."
Nicholas also says the situation needs time to play itself out, with other talented attackers such as Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths also in the squad, but winning silverware is likely to entice Weah to return.
He added: "Celtic's controllers will be the decision-makers on that... If they win the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup, Weah is going to want to come back. We just have to hold fire, let young Timothy go and do the business and what will be will be.
"His price is going up so I don't think they [Celtic] will buy him. Edouard's value went up, it could have been £3m or £4m and we ended up paying £9m. It can advantage but also a disadvantage. I don't think he can make that jump yet but I think you will find that when you play in front of around 50,000 fans, you have to want to do it and that spurs you on.
"Let's see what happens with Edouard and Griffiths too, because if they were available when Weah came in, he may not have been in the squad. I have enjoyed watching the kid."
What happens after his contract ends remains to be seen, but at the moment, Weah remains a Celtic player until the end of June and there is sure to be more to come from the talented 18-year-old.
