Motherwell midfielder Elijah Just has responded to growing speculation suggesting he could be on Celtic’s radar…
Just has seven goals and seven assists for Motherwell
The 25-year-old has impressed since arriving from Austrian side SKN St. Polten last summer, contributing seven goals and seven assists across 39 appearances in all competitions.
His standout form has earned him a nomination for PFA Scotland’s Player of the Year, while he is also set to feature for New Zealand – where he has already amassed 42 international caps – at this summer’s World Cup.
‘Of course, you can’t help but notice it’
When questioned about the transfer talk, including reported interest from Celtic, Just addressed the speculation directly via Daily Record: “Of course, you can’t help but notice it.”
“And it’s always nice when people are talking about you. But, for me personally, I’m just focused on the last four games [of the season for Motherwell], the World Cup.”
‘Still got lots of football to play’
“I’ve still got lots of football to play before I have to even think about my future. Obviously, we’re still competing for a European spot. So that’s also something exciting that’s just around the corner. And I’ve told my agent that I don’t want to hear about anything that goes on, anything about anyone that’s got in contact with him, he hasn’t told me.”
“I’ve said to him, ‘Just leave me to focus on the football’. It’s obviously going well at the moment, so I don’t want anything to mess that up.”
The rumours with Just comes after Martin O’Neill admitted last week that he underestimated the extent of the overhaul required in the summer.
‘We will have a top-heavy squad come the end of the season’
The Celtic boss said: “In terms of getting other players into the football club, yes, we will have a top-heavy squad come the end of the season or come when people are reporting back.”
“I did not realise how big it is. To bring new people in, you’ll have to [clear the decks]. Absolutely, you couldn’t cope with that. And that might not be the easiest thing in the world.”
“Of course, we’ve got some players here that other teams in big leagues will probably want. And that’s something to consider.”
‘I honestly haven’t had the time at this minute’
O’Neill added: “But if you’re talking about players coming back from loans, who maybe have another two years to run, those things might be difficult.”
“I suppose the last thing that those players want to do is. having been out on loan, then going back out on loan again. Either they want something permanent, or they want to feel as if they could do the job here.”
“The answer is I haven’t seen those players. So I should really be looking at what they can do. But I honestly haven’t had the time at this minute.”
1 Comment
With the expected massive rebuilding of our squad over the summer period, the so called rumour mill, has started even earlier than expected?
Trouble is, that it’s nothing more than nonsense at this stage imo?
Just, like Nygren and many other players are going to be more focused upon an upcoming world cup, far moreso than what there careers hold afterwards.
So the effects of this world cup, will have an impact upon the rebuilding process that we are expecting, and the time factor involved for ourselves, is potentially even harder for ourselves to overcome, with it going to be reduced also, with potential European qualifications involved?
All this happening, while a new manager isn’t even in place yet? No idea as to how he intends of setting up our team? And what profile of player he is actually looking for, to hopefully fit into his system of play? Even what players are looking at wanting to be part of next season plans for ourselves? Which potentially stands at far more players, Not interested in being part of the plans, than actually who will be?
So as much as the board get accused of taking a scatter approach within the transfer market, the rumour mill currently in operation is no different at present imo?