Howe is a 'standout' manager who's better than Benitez as Celtic make contact - pundit
Eddie Howe could be the perfect replacement for Neil Lennon at Celtic, according to Alan Hutton.
The ex-Rangers and Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the Hoops need a "hungry" candidate to take the reins at Parkhead.
As revealed by Football Insider earlier on Wednesday, Celtic have made contact with the 43-year-old to assess his interest in the role.
However, it is understood Howe is keen to keep his options open as he eyes a potential return to the Premier League this summer.
The former defender has been out of work since leaving Bournemouth last year following relegation to the Championship.
Hutton suggested Howe, with his experience of working at a top-flight team with a limited budget, could be the perfect new appointment at Celtic Park.
Hutton told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge: "What do you do? Do you go for experience? The likes of (Rafa) Benitez and people like that are getting bandied about, I don't see that happening.
"I think what looks more of a better choice to me is the likes of Eddie Howe. He's a standout to me because he's young, used to having to build teams with not huge amounts of money.
"He's been very successful in his career already. I think you need that kind of hungry manager that loves what he's doing, loves to build. He fits that bill for me.
"Someone like that could be a good appointment. It's whether they could entice him up to do a job in Scotland or not.
"It's a huge decision and it's one that I'm sure they're not taking lightly."