STIJN 'DID NOT SAY NO TO A TRIAL AT CELTIC'.(Sport)

Byline: STEPHEN McGOWAN

CELTIC last night denied reports that Belgian international goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen has rejected the offer of a trial with the Parkhead club.

The 30-year-old free agent was sacked by Belgians Club Brugge in February after criticising team-mates on the internet.

And, in a forthright response to the offer of a closed-door try-out in Scotland, an indignant Stijnen was quoted in his homeland as being dismissive of the prospect. 'I am Stijn Stijnen. I've won 30 caps for Belgium and I've played in a host of Champions League and Europa League games. 'For those reasons, I shouldn't have to prove myself in a trial match.' The keeper's agent Rene Vendermeersch was further quoted, saying: 'Stijn does not want a trial period. 'Any club where he goes to play has to be a good fit for him.

'There is interest in him from abroad. But various Belgian clubs have also said he is their first choice if their existing keepers depart.' In response, however, Celtic issued a statement on their official website yesterday, saying: 'Contrary to media reports, Belgian internationalist goalkeeper Stijn Stijnen has not rejected the chance to go on trial at Celtic.

'Stijn was at Lennoxtown for a look around the club's training facility and to talk to the club.

'He enjoyed his visit to the training centre and we enjoyed having him here, and it was a very positive meeting.' The Scottish Cup winners, meanwhile, are expected to sign 32-year-old Croatian international Stipe Pletikosa subject to medical reports in the coming days.

Reports in Poland claim the Parkhead side are also interested in three-timescapped Grzegorz Sandomierski, a 21-year-old Polish international with Jagiellonia Bialystok. Neil Lennon is also in the market for a striker, with South African international Katlego Mphela confident of winning a [pounds sterling]1.5million move to Glasgow during a four-day try-out next week. The Mamelodi Sundowns striker stayed home as his team-mates flew to Swaziland for a training camp, saying: 'It's not a normal situation at Sundowns for players to be allowed to go for trials, but the club made an exception for me.

'I will be leaving for Scotland on Saturday and will return next week on Friday.

'My intention is to go and do very well. I am confident in my abilities and believe I will do well enough to win a contract with Celtic.

'I was waiting for the call from the president to meet today and discuss my future. Our meeting went very well and he gave me his blessing to attend the trials in Europe.' Former South Africa coach Stuart Baxter, linked with a move to Celtic as Neil Lennon's managerial mentor last summer, gave Mphela his full international debut in 2005 and believes the striker is cut out for a move to Glasgow.

Baxter said: 'I gave Katlego his debut and there was a hullaballoo about it at the time because no one had really heard of him.

'I had been tipped off about him by Arsene Wenger because the player was at Strasbourg at the time and Arsene had been following him since he was a 16-year- old.

'He came in and scored two goals in his first game and he did very well.

'He has pretty much been in the South African side ever since.'