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Page last updated at 13:29 GMT, Wednesday, 18 August 2010 14:29 UK

Celtic complete deal for left-back Emilio Izaguirre

 Emilio Izaguirre is Celtic manager Neil Lennon's latest signing
Emilio Izaguirre starred for Honduras in the World Cup

Celtic have completed the signing of Honduras full-back Emilio Izaguirre for an undisclosed fee.

Izaguirre has agreed a four-year contract, subject to a work permit, and arrives from Motagua in his homeland.

However, the 24-year-old will not be available for Thursday's Europa League qualifier against Utrecht.

Izaguirre, who becomes Celtic manager Neil Lennon's ninth summer signing, will vie with Charlie Mulgrew for the left-back slot in the side.

Celtic's latest recruit featured against Chile and Spain in the World Cup in South Africa, but missed his country's match against Switzerland.

"He trained today," revealed Lennon. "He won't play tomorrow but should be available for selection after that.

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"He's a good player. He's strong defensively, he's quick, he's got a very good left foot and he's good going forward.

"He had a good World Cup for Honduras. (Full-back) is an area we've been looking to fill for a while.

"We've taken our time with this one and we think we've got the right one."

Meanwhile, Lennon admitted he was disappointed to miss out on the signing of Craig Bellamy but insists he will continue to search for big name recruits.

Bellamy, who moved to Cardiff on loan from Manchester City, is not the first high-profile player Celtic have missed out on this summer, having also failed in their attempts to land David James, Jimmy Bullard and Sol Campbell.

"I'm not frustrated at all," said Lennon. "It happens sometimes and we have other options in the pipeline. For Campbell, we got (Daniel) Majstorovic. For Bullard, we got (Joe) Ledley.

"I would have been really pleased to get Craig in but it wasn't to be so I'm disappointed and frustrated but we move on.

"That's the sort of quality that I want to bring to the club. We have done that in previous years and we are not going to stop.

"I'm always looking to improve the team and those players fall into that category.

"We have identified one or two players and if we can bring them in, great. If not, we've got decent players here already."



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see also
Celtic 2-0 Utrecht
19 Aug 10 |  Europe
Lincoln sign Celtic's Hutchinson
18 Aug 10 |  Lincoln
Celtic's O'Dea loaned to Ipswich
18 Aug 10 |  Ipswich
Defender Majstorovic joins Celtic
16 Aug 10 |  Celtic


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