Celtic's 'massive' Kasper Hogh verdict revealed
Celtic have long-term plans for Kasper Hogh and believe he will turn around his recent form, sources have told Football Insider.
The Hoops forked out a record fee of £11million to bring the 25-year-old to Parkhead during the summer after he caught the eye with his dispalys for Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League.
However, despite netting a hattrick against Kilmarock in just his second Scottish Premiership game, the striker has so far struggled to adapt to life in Glasgow.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider's Transfer Insider podcast, Celtic are worried about Hogh's form but will not make any snap judgements about his signing.
They are prepared to give the striker time to adapt to his new surroundings and believe he will come good despite what has been a concerning run of form.
After club football resumes following the international break, when Celtic will face Motherwell at Fir Park, there is optimism that he will find a qick return to his best level.
Why are Celtic worried about Kasper Hogh?
Football Insider revealed on 2 October that Celtic are worried about Hogh's fitness after a downturn in performances culminated in a poor display against Rangers.
A thigh injury saw him miss games against Falkirk, Aberdeen and St Mirren, and conecerns have grown about his performances since his return from that muscle blow.
However, there is optimsm that the time to recover and reset during the extended break will allow him to get back to his best when Celtic return to Premiership action.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: "I don't think there are any major concerns just yet, they’ve had no knee-jerk reactions.
"He got off to a great start when he scored that hattrick in just his second game against Kilmarnock, but then he picked up an injury.
"As you said, Celtic put in a lot of effort to try and sign Kasper Hogh, they spent £11million on him as well, so they see him as a long-term project.
"Celtic value him as somebody who will lead the club and lead the line for the club for a number of years as well, after they beat a number of other clubs to his signature.
"So they won't be writing him off just yet, they're hoping he can work to regain his sharpness during the international break and come back to have a massive impact for Celtic.
"He's a quality player, he proved that for Bodo/Glimt last season when he was scoring against the likes of Man City and Atletico Madrid, so there are long-term plans for him at Celtic."
How do Celtic feel about Hogh's long-term future?
Despite those concerns about his performances early in his Celtic career, there is a clear plan for Hogh to remain part of this side for years to come.
Former Aberdeen CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider in July that Hogh is now Celtic's highest-paid player after they beat Premier League clubs to the striker's signature.
The work put in to bring the striker to Parkhead during the summer was a display of their faith in his abilities, and their belief that he will be a major success given time.
Other issues like Celtic's recent collapse in form have also been flagged as reasons for the striker's struggles, with no major concerns about him or his talents indivudually.
Hogh's performances in the Champions League for Bodo/Glimt, where he scored big goals against the likes of Atletico Madrid and Man City, have highlighted his quality.