Kevin Doyle was ‘pretty sure’ he would be joining Celtic

Kevin Doyle picked up the 3 International Goal of the Year Award last night and revealed he was sure he would become a Celtic player last week.

By Declan Whooley

Doyle’s last gasp winner in Kazakhstan was voted the strike of the year and certainly was one of the most important as it kept our qualification hopes alive. It is the second time the Wexford man has won the award after picking it up in 2010 also.

The Wolves man has revealed that he had expected to link up with Celtic during the week after the Parkhead club expressed an interest in bringing him to Scotland.

“To be honest, the day or two before, I thought it was going to be done. I was pretty sure it was going to go ahead,” he said.

Manager Dean Saunders rejected the Bhoys offer as he felt he wouldn’t have time to replace Doyle and the striker has admitted he is happy to stay at Molineux after a misunderstanding with the club over his future.

“There was a crossing of wires. I thought the club wanted to get me off the wage bill and the chairman assured me that that wasn’t the case.”

“The chairman assured me that he wants me there so that’s all I can do,” he added. “If they didn’t want me, they would have let me go.”

Doyle admitted that the move was appealing, not to mind the prospect of Champions League football, but for now is happy to stay at the Midlands club.

Doyle has struggled for form this season, scoring just two goals in 30 appearances, but here is a reminder of that late winner in Astana that saw the striker take the top gong.