Hoops after a new Pet

CELTIC are tracking Serb youngster Nikola Petkovic to solve their troublesome left-back problem.

Celts watched the Eintracht Frankfurt defender in action for Serbia's Under-21 side against Italy at the European Championships in Sweden on Tuesday night.

The £1.5million-rated 23-year-old was outstanding in the goalless draw in Helsingborgs and the much-travelled defender is on new boss Tony Mowbray's radar.

Petkovic has made only six appearances for Bundesliga outfit Frankfurt since signing last January. The overlapping full-back had been with Turks Genclerbirligi and moved to Red Star Belgrade on a year's loan last summer. But he was there only five months before moving to Germany.

Celtic and Rangers were the only Scottish sides among 62 teams represented at the Under-21 finals in Sweden as our clubs concede the days of cherry-picking top young talent from a competition like it are long gone.

A Celtic source admitted: "Twenty years ago you could come to a competition like this and scout the best of the young talent from around Europe. But the majority of these players are now well-known and many of them are already with western clubs."

Of the Serbian side who faced Italy in Sweden, six - including Manchester United youngster Zoran Tosic - play their football in western Europe.

The Celts source added: "It's the same with the promising players from the more established countries. Even though the transfer markets are changing because of the recession, there are very few bargains to be had."

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