Rangers legend Barry Ferguson has praised Celtic wing starlet Liel Abada with the Israel fully stamping his mark on Scottish football over the past 16 months following a move from Maccabi Petah Tikva last summer.
Abada joined Celtic as a relatively unknown prospect from his hometown club for a fee of just under £4million, with fans unsure what to expect of his talents in such a crucial summer of transition at Parkhead following the arrival of Ange Postecoglou. And, with Ryan Christie and Odsonne Edouard both leaving the Hoops in the same window, his arrival in place of two Celtic stalwarts meant that huge pressure was placed upon his shoulders almost immediately.
That didn't faze the youngster; Abada scored 15 goals and registered 11 assists in just 3,295 minutes of football - a goal or assist every 126 minutes under Postecoglou - as Celtic romped to the title and a League Cup. That tally has increased to a goal or assist every 85 minutes this season with Celtic leading the pack at the top of the Scottish Premiership once again, with Abada taking on a more important role on the right-wing.
Speaking to Go Radio the former Gers captain said: "With Abada, he never takes the easy option when he gets into that final third - his first thought is take the man on, get to the byline and get a cross in.
"For the age of 20, his numbers are exceptional, assists are exceptional, and his goalscoring too. He brings goals to the Celtic team, and coming from a different country at a young age, it can be hard to settle but he has done that really well.
"He's one player who I think that if he continues his form, Celtic will struggle at some stage to hold on to him, but I don't think he will be going any time soon unless a crazy offer comes in.
"At this moment in time, he has a lot of learning to do to fulfil his potential, but he's certainly on the right road."
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