EXCLUSIVE: Celtic enter race to sign Huddersfield goal-machine Rhodes

By Stephen Mcgowan for MailOnline Updated: 18:31 EST, 16 November 2011

In demand: Celtic and Newcastle are interested in Rhodes

Celtic have joined the queue of clubs monitoring prolific new Scotland striker Jordan Rhodes.

Sportsmail has learned that the Parkhead side have acquired an interest in the Huddersfield star, the opening goalscorer for Scotland's Under-21 side in Holland on Monday.

Neil Lennon is scouring the market for new faces after an indifferent first half of the season, with players expected to be shipped out to make way for new Parkhead recruits in January.

And Rhodes, who made his senior bow in Scotland's friendly win in Cyprus last week, has been added to a list of potential targets after leading Hudderfield's promotion push with 13 goals.

However, the Parkhead side face an uphill struggle to land the free-scoring forward after Huddersfield manager Lee Clark issued a 'hands-off' warning to predators and insisted he won't go cheap.

Not for sale: Huddersfield are desperate to hang on to the Scotland international

Newcastle United have also been linked with the forward, while Manchester United scout Paul Scholes also watched him recently amidst reports of a £2million release clause.

Responding to talk of a January move, however, Huddersfield boss Clark said: 'It's inevitable but there's absolutely nothing in it - £2m wouldn't even buy his socks.

 

'None of our players have a release clause and the owner has gone on record as saying we won't be selling any of our rising stars in January.

'The board are as determined as I am to lead the club to promotion, and that means keeping hold of our top players.'

Clark believes Rhodes - son of former Dunfermline and Airdrie keeper Andy - has only added to his value with his Scotland exploits, adding:

'Everyone at Huddersfield Town is proud of Jordan and delighted at the success he has had on the international stage.

'He's a smashing bloke who has been well brought up within a footballing family. He'll keep his feet firmly on the ground, and I know that when he returns to training, his mind will be 100 per cent focused on our next game against Notts County.'

Scotland No 2 Peter Houston admitted yesterday that he can't wait to work with 'old fashioned' Rhodes after missing the Cyprus trip to concentrate on club duties.

'I have not worked with Jordan Rhodes yet, but he's a very exciting player. You get people who have a natural talent for putting the ball in the net. 'We have had them in the past, guys like John Robertson, Ally McCoist, Charlie Nicholas and Billy Dodds - and Jordan looks like he's a great finisher, too.

'He's an old-fashioned striker, he just wants the ball in the box because he's confident of putting it away.'