Scouting Report: Have Celtic Found The Next Hartson In Libor Kozak?

Celtic Blog

Injuries can play a major role in the growth of a player and one player who hasn’t had the best of times with injuries is Aston Villa’s Libor Kozak. The Czech striker joined Villa in 2013 but a broken leg and further injuries have curtailed his playing time at the club and with a new manager at the helm, his time at the Midlands club could well be coming to an end.

There have been reports that Celtic have been scouting the striker, who only returned to proper first team action this season and are set to make a move for the lanky forward in January. Ronny Deila himself had travelled to watch the Aston Villa striker player in an U-21 reserve game and hopes to bolster his attacking options by signing the former Lazio striker and bringing him to Celtic Park.

What does Kozak bring to Scotland?

Kozak isn’t a young player who has just broken into the limelight, he was signed from Serie A club Lazio by Paul Lambert in 2013, but injuries haven’t been his best friend since his move to England. He has only made 15 appearances for Villa since he joined them and hasn’t played a minute in the first team this season under Remi Garde either.

Kozak is more than six feet tall and is perfect for the long ball game that could bolster any team. His movement might not be the quickest but given his size, it isn’t expected also. Kozak though can head the ball extremely well and is brilliant when it comes to aerial duels as these are some of his strengths.

He also has great positional sense and you will find him more often in the penalty box waiting for the cross to come in. For all his aerial and heading ability, his feet aren’t the best when it comes to close control.

Kozak isn’t the greatest passer of the ball either and finding the man isn’t one of his strengths. Pump a ball forward to him and watch him be a menace in the opposition box seems to be his best playing style. Kozak does like to put out a flick here and there as he tries to bring his teammates to the game but again, it is his physical presence which is his greatest asset and the player knows that.

Kozak might seek a new challenge and he could well become the next Jon Hartson. He might not be as physically intimidating as the former Celtic striker, but Kozak does have the ability to do well as the target man, something that Celtic could well do with.