DARREN Moore, the Sheffield Wednesday manager, has admitted he was bitterly disappointed to lose both Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide to Celtic and predicted the pair will flourish at Parkhead this term.

Moore’s team, relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2020/21 campaign, will take on Ange Postecoglou’s side in a pre-season friendly in Newport in Wales this afternoon.

The former Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City, Porstmouth, West Brom and Derby County centre half knows all about the abilities of two of the Glasgow outfit’s players after working with them last season.

Shaw and Urhoghide moved to Scotland when their contracts expired and their former coach, who only took over at Hillsborough in March, expects them to do well at Celtic. 

“We wish them well going forward,” he said. “They’re two great boys and two good, young players.

“There’s work to be done with their development. But in terms of potential. I think they’re both wonderful.

“Celtic have made two wonderful signings and there’s much more to come from both of them. They’ve got a lot to offer to Celtic.

“We were anxious to keep them both. But once you get that side of the year, after January, it’s very difficult for you to strike deals.

“Players of their magnitude, you don’t let them get to that side of their contract. Had I been at the club a lot earlier then that wouldn’t have happened.

“I tried to keep Osaze in the building. But the boy had already made up his mind by the time I came in. I got it and I understood it, as disappointing as it was. I tried as hard as I could.

“But it was especially difficult for me because no sooner had I come in then I picked up Covid. That forced me away from things for a period and I didn’t really get the chance to get hold of Osaze.

“They are both good lads and we wish them well in their new adventures at Celtic. Hopefully, they’ll both be good additions for the football club.”

Moore, the former Jamaica internationalist who has spent spells in charge of West Brom and Doncaster since retiring from playing, was grateful for the contribution both Shaw and Urghoghide made to Sheffield Wednesday’s ultimately ill-fated bid to beat Championship relegation last season. 

“We were in a position where we were fighting to pull back our goal deficit,” he said. “It was a short space of time to turn around our fortunes at the club.

“Do I still feel we could’ve done something about it? Probably yes. Ultimately, we were just 12 minutes or one goal away from staying up.

“So, it was a tremendous effort against all the odds. But it just wasn’t enough. But we go again, we restructure things and we rebuild.

“Both Liam and Osaze were excellent in their approach towards the team’s situation. They saw their futures elsewhere, but they still gave all they could for our fight. They were very committed.

“We spoke to both players about their roles and responsibilities. I was really grateful for their commitment to it and we wish them well.

“When we see them, either at the hotel or at the game tomorrow, we’ll definitely wish them both the best. There’s no problems at either with them.”

Meanwhile, Moore has urged Sheffield Wednesday pair Liam Palmer and Callum Paterson, who both missed out on selection to the Scotland squad for the Euro 2020 finals, to use their disappointment at not being selected for the national team this summer to spur them on in the new season.

“I was gutted for Liam and Callum that they didn’t make the Euros,” he said. “It would’ve been a dream for both.

“But it’s up to them to make sure they’re motivated to come back stronger and better and show that they’re still not out of contention for Scotland. They’ve got to keep working hard because they’ve been part of the international scene for a little while.

“They’re not forgotten, I’m sure. They’ve just got to use it as a motivation for the new season to get back to what they know best - playing well and consistently.”