Roker Roundup: Former scout tried to convince Sunderland to sign Celtic ace

Former Sunderland scout recommended Celtic star

Former Celtic defender Mo Camara has been discussing two of the Scottish club’s star players, Odsonne Edouard and Olivier Ntcham, and how they should not be in a rush to leave the Scottish champions.

The ex-Guinean international has warned the players that players often go to the Premier League too soon and that there careers will be better served by staying in the Scottish Premiership for the time being.

Camara has been scouting for Manchester United but was once on Sunderland’s books as a scout and he revealed to the Glasgow Times that he tried to convince the club to sign Ntcham some years ago:

I’ve watched Odsonne Edouard and he’s a very good player, a good prospect for the future, I know Olivier Ntcham, too. When I was at Le Havre he was a very, very young player there.

When I was scouting for Sunderland I watched him three or four times and I actually told Sunderland to sign him. He’s a very good player, it was sad that it didn’t quite work out for him in Italy but he’s a quality player. He can play different positions, in the centre and on the wing if needed, so I like him.

I think, at the moment, Edouard and Ntcham are still in the right place to improve their game. Edouard for the past few years now has scored a lot of goals for Celtic and he’s been on top in the last couple of years compared to Ntcham. But I think sometimes players go to the Premier League too soon. At Celtic they play in Europe, they compete for trophies.

It’s better to have three or four seasons at Celtic and after that there’s a good possibility they can play in a top four or five club in the Premier League. Neither player would want to go to the Premier League to sit on the bench at a team in the top ten. Celtic play Europa League or Champions League every season and they have Neil Lennon there who is a good lad and a good manager.

The Premier League is the best league in the world and sometimes players rush to get there. I think, if I was someone to give them advice or a member of their family I would tell them to stay one more year at Celtic after this season.

Photo by Jeff Holmes/PA Images via Getty Images

Allan Gauden, 1944-2020

Grimsby Town have announced that former Sunderland midfielder Allan Gauden has sadly died at the age of 75.

Gauden came through the ranks at Sunderland and made history on his debut in a 3-1 away defeat by Aston Villa during the 1965/66 season when he became the first substitute in the club’s history.

Substitutes had just been brought in as a trial at the beginning of that season and Gauden became the club’s first when he replaced Mike Hellawell just before the hour mark.

Gauden also played for Darlington before being snapped up by Lawrie McMenemy at Grimsby Town where he went on to play a leading role as the Mariners would win the Fourth Division. He would also go on to feature for Hartlepool and Gillingham.