Killen on the move??

• Celtic have signed Greek striker Georgios Samaras on loan from English Premier League Manchester City until the end of the season, the Scottish champions said on their Web site (www.celticfc.net).

Celtic said they had the option of making the deal permanent for the 22-year-old, who has won 12 international caps. He scored eight goals in 55 league appearances for Manchester City.

They've also signed a 20 year old striker from Middlesborough, Ben Hutchinson, so I would have thought that, if Samaras stays on after the end of the season, somebody will be leaving.

im a rangers fan and hate celtic but i do think killen is a talented player and its ashame hes on the bench every week, you see what gordon strachan does is everytime a player is linked to rangers he signs them so we dont get em and killen, riordan and samaras were all linked to gers before going to celtic, difference is riordan and killen would have got a game every week at rangers, killen should leave to further his career, it would be great to see him over here playin for the phoenix.

Killens treble kills off Killie.

David Friel
CHRIS KILLEN grabbed a magnificent first-half hat-trick as Celtic reserves continued their winning streak with a 3-1 defeat of Kilmarnock.

The New Zealand striker was in clinical form at the Excelsior Stadium as Willie McStay�s side killed the game off with a scintillating opening 45 minutes.

Currently on top form, the Hoops have now won six consecutive games since the turn of the year � scoring 19 goals in the process � and are still is contention for a seventh consecutive title at this level.

With no first-team game until Sunday, reserve coach McStay was able to field numerous senior players for this league match, with I want to be banned I want to be banned, Mark Wilson, Evander Sno, Koki Mizuno, Ben Hutchinson and Killen among those starting.

The visitors also used this match to give several first-team players a game, with Paul Dalglish � son of Celtic legend Kenny � the most noticeable name on show.

Celtic began brightly and Killen was almost handed the first chance when Ryan Conroy and Wilson combined on the left to create an opening, but Killie defended well.

At the other end, Killie had some joy on a counter-attack, which ended with Willie Gibson breaking free. Scott Cuthbert showed superb awareness to thwart the danger.

As the game settled, it was no surprise when Celtic took the lead in 18 minutes. A flowing move ended with Paul Caddis firing over a superb cross from the right and Killen�s volleyed finish was clinical.

Mark Brown saved Willie Gibson�s free-kick and Cuthbert headed clear from under his own bar, as Killie looked for a leveller, before Celtic all but killed the game in 25 minutes.

And what a goal it was. Sno made progress on the right and found Mizuno at the edge of the box. The Japanese star flicked a pass to Hutchinson and he lofted a cross to the far post, where Killen guided a header into the top corner.

Celtic lost Hutchinson to injury just after the half-hour mark but that failed to disrupt their rhythm and Caddis almost created a third.

Sprinting down the right, the full-back nutmegged Kyle Wright and fired a brilliant centre across the face of goal � but there were no takers as Killie survived.

Yet, Celtic wouldn�t be denied for long and Killen grabbed his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time. Wilson won a free-kick on the left and Mizuno�s cross was bulleted into the net by the Kiwi.

Mark Millar, again impressive in central midfield, fired over the bar as Celtic started the second half brightly.

However, it was Killie who were on target with a goal from the boot of Iain Flannigan, who curled a free-kick off the underside of the bar and off Brown into the net.

Killie were boosted by this but it was Celtic who had the best chances of the closing stages, with Mizuno heavily involved. First, he danced past three or four challenges before being tackled in the box.

And with time running out, the Japanese midfielder showed some Nakamura-esque technique with a free-kick that shaved the top of the bar as Celtic eased to a comfortable win.