As Celtic’s search for a new permanent appointment continues to rumble on, one pundit has done more than simply identify the two most likely candidates.

SunSport chief sports writer Derek McGregor spoke about the ongoing manager hunt on The Huddle podcast with Mark Wilson, picking out Eddie Howe and Roy Keane as the two most likely candidates to take up the hotseat at Parkhead.

“I’m very much of the opinion, in terms of Roy Keane and Eddie Howe there’s too much smoke without some kind of fire.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that both of them will have been sounded out.

“You’re probably at the stage now where the board are looking to progress talks.

“If you remember at the time prior to Brendan Rodgers being appointed, Dermot Desmond ended up interviewing three candidates at his home in London. There was Neil Lennon, Davie Moyes and Brendan Rodgers.

“Given the covid restrictions, I don’t know if Dermot will be able to do the interviews from his house”.

McGregor then threw a fresh hat into the ring with further elaboration as to why:

“I think there’s also a potential for a third candidate to come in, I personally think Chris wilder is somebody worth interviewing, he’s a very good manager. While he doesn’t quite have the excitement attached to him like a Keane or a Howe, but Chris Wilder is a solid proven manager.”

Read Celtic Verdict

The no-smoke-without-fire verdict seems to be an apt one.

Will Eddie Howe be appointed by Celtic?

Yes

No

The Daily Record is one such source to re-iterate Keane and Howe as the favourites, with the Sun’s Alan Nixon being just another source to place Howe as a ‘serious candidate’ front and centre on the Hoops’ list.

With Diego Laxalt even hinting that Howe could be appointed imminently, it seems the Howe speculation has legs to it.