Scandinavian insider knows how to get the best out of Celtic star as decoy tactic suggested

Former Celtic utility man Vidar Riseth reckons the best way to get the best out of striker Kasper Hogh is to use his physicality to bring others into play.

Riseth, who earned 52 caps for Norway as a player, was an avid watcher of Hogh in the Eliteserien and Champions League with Bodo Glimt, where his heroics earned him his £11m Celtic transfer in the summer. However, it’s been a frustrating spell so far in Glasgow for the Dane, who is currently in the middle of an 18 match goal drought for club and country.

Hogh hasn’t perhaps had the same service he did at Bodo, where he netted 54 goals in 103 appearances. Manager Kjetil Knutsen played an attacking style which suited the 25-year old’s fox-in-the-box style. Celtic boss Martin O’Neill hasn’t been able to emulate this - but Riseth thinks he knows how Hogh can be utilised even when not at his best.

Scandi insider on how to get the best out of Hogh

Riseth, who made 73 Hoops appearance as a defender and midfielder in his two years at the club, reckons Hogh can pin opposition defenders and create space for others. He told the Scottish Sun: “Hogh is a big, strong targetman. When he played for Bodo, they played a different style that worked for him. I think he’d like to get more crosses, like he did at Bodo, because he’s such a big lad with a good finish.

“Now they’re playing more up to him and asking to get the ball back again, so it’s different for him, but the most important thing for Martin is Celtic winning games. If Martin wants to use Hogh as a way to give more space to other players, then that’s the best way to use him. Sometimes at Bodo he didn’t score the goals, but there’s always one or two defenders on him all the time. That gives space to the midfield and to other players to come through and score the goals. If he works hard and does a good job, it doesn’t matter who scores.”

O’Neill ally backs former boss to change fortunes

Riseth’s Celtic career briefly overlapped with O’Neill’s in 2000, when the Northern Irishman was appointed only months before his transfer to 1860 Munich. While the champions’ form has dwindled in recent weeks, Riseth reckons O’Neill is still the right man for the job after achieving the domestic double last season.

He continued: “For Martin to come back how he did last season, was amazing. And now the best thing Celtic can do is to keep Martin as long as they can, because he is one of the great coaches. It doesn’t surprise me he is still going at his age. As long as Martin can talk and can sit in the dugout, he will do a good job because he’s an amazing guy.”