I’ll save you a fortune, Lenny

LUKASZ ZALUSKA has told Neil Lennon he's ready to become Celtic's new No1 after emerging from the worst year of his life.

The Hoops boss is in the market for a goalkeeper after Newcastle United rejected a £1.5million bid for Fraser Forster.

The Geordie shot-stopper spent last season on loan at Parkhead - restricting Zaluska to just two SPL appearances.

And the Pole - impressive against Central Coast Mariners in Sydney last Saturday - admits he was forced to endure some of the darkest days of his career as he contemplated his Celtic future.

But after a soul-searching summer he's refreshed and raring to go. And last night he urged Lennon not to splash the cash on a new keeper - and instead put his faith in him.

Zaluska said: "After last year - my worst year ever because I played just two games - I'm pretty sure this season will be much better for me. I'm ready to play, the gaffer knows that. I hope every game I can prove to him I can be Celtic No1.

"To be honest after my first season when Artur Boruc was the Celtic No1 keeper and I played something like 17 games, Artur then went to Fiorentina and I expected to play more than I did in that first season.

"But Fraser came and played very well. He broke records for keeping clean sheets and everything.

"I spoke with the gaffer a lot of times but Fraser did well and I have had to wait for my chance.

"I hope it has come now and we will see what happens."

Zaluska is working harder than most in a bid to impress boss Lennon Down Under.

Sharp, fit and more focused than ever before, the former Dundee United star is determined to win his gaffer's trust. All he asks is to be given a chance.

Zaluska, who will start against Perth Glory on Saturday, said: "Celtic, from the beginning of last season and the Celtic of the last game of the season, were two different things. There were eleven or 12 new players at the beginning of the season and we lost in Europe.

"But, you know, I'm not looking behind me, I'm looking forward and I hope everything changes now.

"I've said I'm ready to be the No1 keeper, the manager knows that. I spoke with him already.

"I know Celtic are looking at goalkeepers, but if they sign a No1 then we are fighting for a place.

"If you are a striker then you can come on the pitch for the last ten minutes and score a goal and next week you start. As a keeper you have to wait for a chance or for someone to be injured. That's why I am fighting right now, to be No1.

"I believe in myself. I know the gaffer trusts me and I am looking forward to a massive challenge."

Yet perhaps deep down Zaluska knows his pleas will fall on deaf ears.

Lennon is almost certain to bring in a new No1 with Manchester City's Shay Given still on his radar. Zaluska is unlikely to tolerate another season on the sidelines.


For now, though, he is remaining diplomatic. He smiled: "Would I have to move if I don't start this season? I love this club, I want to stay here and I don't want to think about being second choice all season. I hope I play far more games."

Zaluska has been linked with a move to Polonia Warsaw.

But a return to Poland - and Polonia Warsaw in particular - is out of the question right now.

He said: "Polonia for me is like Glasgow Rangers. I'm Legia. I am never going to play for Rangers and I am never going to play for Polonia Warsaw.

"I'm a big guy. But I have to be honest with myself. I was unhappy. You prepare every day. Then on a Saturday it's 60,000 fans inside Celtic Park and you have to sit on the bench and feel disappointed.
"But we will see."

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sco...-Forsters-gloves-for-keeps.html#ixzz1RH6bCTaV
​

 

Aye right so he will not good enough .

 

I say we give him a chance.

 

i think he is a good goalkeeper, except one thing, unfortunately his weakness is a big one and vital to a keeper and that is decision making. He does some of the stupidest things a keeper can do, come out to often for crossed balls that he has no chance of getting and if a ball gets played down the line he sometimes sees himself as a sweeper and tries to win the ball which 9 times out of 10 ends in fans being left with there heart in there mouths

 

He played two competitive games this season, both v the huns and he didn't concede a goal.

 

he also made an * of himself in all the european matches we had and a few pre season ones aswell, he's not good enough, he struggles with free kicks badly,very unconvincing .

 

Good attitude to have to be honest. I personally don't think he's good enough though. If he was going to be are number one you would imagine he would have been by now.

Bottom line is though, he has had two years to impress and he clearly hasn't. Time to go.

 

I like it. It's pre season, now is his chance. What good is just laughing going to do?

 

I would be seriously worried if we started the season with Zaluska as our number 1

 

FFS

 

So did most of the players tbh

 

I remember under Mowbray when Boruc was out of form and I, and many others, were desperate to have this lad between the sticks. If I recall right Boruc was dropped in favour of him at some point during the league.

Always thought he was a good keeper until the beginning of Lennys season when he was terrible. His positioning for set-pieces was the main worry and it was basic, basic stuff which was costing us.

I'm glad he's desperate to play and hope we've not seen the best of him yet. We need to bring in a keeper either way but I think the Given deal is unlikely and I'm not sure we're going to bring in anybody else better than Zaluska.

 

Fair point actually

 

dont get why people are laughing at him for saying this what should he say, not saying i'd have him as my number 1 but he's not as bad as is made out on here

 

I wouldnt mind him as No. 1 tbh!

 

give him pre sea.half each,but we need given s stature in the sticks.

 

Good to hear. Right kind of message you want from your squad players. I like his attitude.

 

IMO if we cant sign a better keeper i would give him number 1 but as soon as he slips up big Cervi would be my number one choice