Allan emotional over Celtic welcome

The Scotland wide-man, speaking at the Hoops’ Lennoxtown training ground ahead of today’s match against Inverness, said: “I don’t think it has anything to do with that”.

Certainly he’d have to work pretty damn hard to win over the Parkhead fans due to his “allegiances” and one would imagine if he failed to produce the goods immediately he could find himself quickly in the wilderness under Delia and JC.

There’s little doubt Rangers pursuit of the 23-year-old, a boyhood idol of the Govan outfit, provided an unwelcome distraction for Hibs head coach Alan Stubbs and the other members of his squad, Allan’s future the only topic of conversation no matter how the Capital club strived to keep attention centred on matches rather than dispatches.

“I wish any player well, but right now my only focus is making sure we secure those players with that mindset, who want to be here”. After Kallum Higginbotham’s Panenka-style penalty equaliser for Kilmarnock in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw had dislodged Celticfrom the top of the table, the Rugby Park player said of Collins’ remarks: “When you read stuff like that it just gives you the extra 10 per cent that you need to go and run against them”.

First up was George Kelly, who emailed: “Thank goodness Rangers never got Allan as he is just another Scott Brown”. That’s what your family is there for. Of course not. In fact, it was said regularly of both Celtic and Rangers in previous years that the lack of a demanding home environment meant that the two Glasgow sides could harbour their resources for the more rigorous tests presented by Europe. They have been fine with me. “We don’t need to sell him and he’s going to stay here – for the qualifiers anyway”, Deila added.

“He wasn’t able to get his message across, when his message at times was a very good message”.

“What did he say to me?” “Obviously they have been doing well, but it’s something I have been looking forward to”.

Now, though, full concentration can be paid to that target of taking the title and with it the only automatic promotion spot although, it could be argued, that in unsettling Allan and disrupting life at East Mains, Rangers have, at least, come up some reward for their efforts.

Allan was greeted by a standing ovation when he took a bow before Saturday’s win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle and was mobbed by autograph hunters outside the stadium.

“There was a bit of uncertainty”, said Allan.

Kenny Bryce emailed: “I hope Allan knows what he is doing”. It was different class.

New Celtic signing Scott Allan says he won’t waste his opportunity at Celtic, saying he has learned lessons after failing to make the grade at West Bromwich Albion earlier in his career.

They were all rejected by Hibs, though, and Allan said it was an “easy decision” to join Celtic.

I’m delighted to be a Celtic player now and I look forward to working hard.

“All I remember was that it was quite amusing. I have belief in my own ability to do that”.