CELTIC manager David Haley says the recruitment of American players Jaclyn Poucel and Darcy McFarlane is a statement of intent by the Parkhead club. Both are in contention for tomorrow’s home SWPL1 game against Glasgow City.
“It says we are bringing in a certain calibre of player now and we’re not playing games any more,” Haley said.
Central defender Poucel, who has played in the top leagues of Finland and Iceland, and holding midfielder McFarlane were unveiled at Celtic Park yesterday.
“David wants to win trophies and he brought us in to help do that,” 23-year-old Poucel said. “I’m a centre back, so he wanted someone who is strong and a leader.
McFarlane, a year younger, said: “We spoke with David before we signed and I really liked his vision for the club. He definitely has ambitions for us to be in the top two and make the Champions League.”
Neither will necessarily start although Haley said both are fit enough to do so. They are, however, likely to be given game time against the ten-times champions.
Celtic have squeezed through their first two competitive games of the season, beating Forfar Farmington 1-0 in the SWPL Cup and newly promoted Hamilton Accies 2-1 in last Sunday’s opening league game.
By contrast City have sailed through theirs, beating Jeanfield Swifts 8-0 and following up with a 7-0 win in the league over Stirling University. Another American import, Savannah Jordan, scored hat-tricks in both games.
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