Ex-Ger Exclusive: Celtic will be kicking themselves for not re-signing No1 Lennon target

Celtic will be kicking themselves after missing out on re-signing David Marshall during the summer transfer window, according to Alan Hutton.

The former Rangers and Scotland full-back, speaking exclusively to Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge, has been left raving over the 35-year-old goalkeeper after his heroics secured Scotland a place at next year's European Championships.

As revealed by Football Insider in July, the Derby County shot-stopper, who left Wigan Athletic to join the Rams this summer, was on Neil Lennon's shortlist as the Hoops boss looked to sign a new number one.

The Glasgow-born keeper has established himself as Derby's first-choice between the sticks, while he played a crucial role in Scotland's Euro 2020 qualifying play-off win over Serbia.

Celtic chose to instead splash the cash on signing Greek international Vasilis Barkas in the summer but Hutton has suggested the Bhoys would be "desperate" to have Marshall back at Parkhead instead.

Asked if he thought Celtic would be kicking themselves over missing out on the Scotland star, Hutton told Football Insider: "Definitely, 100 per cent, but you make decisions that can be made in a heartbeat and they think that they are going with a better option with Barkas at the time.

"Maybe if they're looking at it now they'd be saying: 'We've missed a trick'. Obviously David Marshall is - and I've always known he is - a fantastic goalkeeper.

"It's just been unfortunate, obviously, in his Scotland career there have been other outstanding goalkeepers also.

"He's had to bide his time and look, he has waited patiently and he makes a huge save, a massive moment that will go down in Scottish history he'll forever be in everybody's minds for doing that but I think he is a guy that Celtic would be desperate to have at the moment."

Marshall has played 40 times for Scotland to date, while he featured 28 times for Celtic between 2003 and 2007.

In other Celtic news, Alex McLeish left in awe of Hoops star he thought had lost his legs.