PIERRE van Hooydonk, the #1.2m Celtic striker who scored on his debut

against Hearts this week, was celebrating again yesterday after having

been named in the Dutch squad for the friendly against France in Utrecht

on Wednesday.

The 6ft 5in, 25-year-old, bought by Celtic from Dutch club NAC Breda,

for whom he scored 114 goals in 182 games, replaces injured Inter Milan

star Dennis Bergkamp. Van Hooydonk won his first cap against Luxembourg

last month.

Van Hooydonk's fine debut came as no surprise to the last towering

Dutchman to play in Scotland, former Aberdeen striker Willem van der

Ark. He believes van Hooydonk can be a huge success in Scotland if

Celtic manager Tommy Burns can provide support.

''Pierre can be as good as Andy Cole or any other striker in Britain,

but he cannot achieve this by himself. Celtic must bring in new players

to support him,'' he said. ''He will not prove to be the saviour they

are looking for if he is asked to play alone in attack.

''He is equally effective in the air and on the ground. He can also

link the attack and midfield. He will be a bargain if Celtic get the

right players in. His biggest problem will be adjusting to the frantic

pace of the premier division.

''But I didn't find that too difficult, and scoring in my debut at

Motherwell lifted my confidence.''

Manchester United striker Eric Cantona is included in France's 17-man

squad for the Holland match.

* ABERDEEN manager Willie Miller has recalled injury-recovered

Scotland striker Eoin Jess for tomorrow's match with Partick Thistle at

Pittodrie.

Jess has not scored a goal for Aberdeen this season and has been used

in a substitute's role for the past six weeks, but a double in a reserve

cup tie has convinced Miller that the youngster is worthy of a starting

place.''

Former European champions Marseille were banned yesterday from playing

their next home match at the Stade Velodrome after a riot by their fans

last week. The second division fixture is against Niort and scheduled

for February 8. Rioting fans forced play to be stopped 76 minutes into

the match against Nancy on January 6.

* HAMILTON were having signing talks last night with midfielder Ian

MacCall of Falkirk. The Brockville club are willing to allow McCall to

leave and Hamilton manager Iain Munro has been a long-time admirer of

him.

Meanwhile, Hamilton could have a bigger than normal crowd tomorrow for

their first-division match against Stranraer. Fans will be given a

voucher which will enable them to buy a ticket for the Tennents Scottish

cup-tie against Rangers at the end of the month.

* HIBERNIAN'S reserve fixture with Motherwell at Easter Road tomorrow

has been frozen out. The game has been called off due to problems with

the central heating system which has left them without hot water or

heating, though the undersoil heating is working.

Ironically, Hibs are sponsored this season by Calor Gas.

* BLACKBURN striker Kevin Gallacher's long-awaited comeback has been

put on hold.

He was set to start a reserve clash for Rovers last night -- his first

run-out since breaking a leg against Arsenal last February -- but a

thigh strain halted the Scotland player's plans and left him frustrated

on the sidelines.

* FIRST division St Johnstone have made a move to keep unsettled star

Paul Wright at Perth by offering him a deal ''which we believe will make

him one of the highest-paid in the division.'' The former Scottish

Under-21 striker had posted a transfer request last week.

Saints will be without defender Jim Weir for a month. He broke his

nose in the midweek derby with Dundee.

* ALLAN Evans was finally confirmed as Aston Villa's assistant manager

yesterday -- six weeks after walking out on Leicester. He goes back to

one of his former clubs to link up again with manager Brian Little --

the man he followed out of Leicester in mid-November.

* BRAZILIAN star Romario has signed for Flamengo of Rio de Janeiro for

$4.5m after talks with officials at Romario's former club, Barcelona.

* FORMER Everton and Manchester City manager Howard Kendall has been

appointed manager of first-division Notts County. He takes over from

Russell Slade, who will become his assistant.

* JUDGES investigating the alleged sale of cocaine to Napoli players

between 1987 and 1990 have issued an arrest warrant for Guillermo

Coppola, the former manager of Argentinian star Diego Maradona.

* CHELSEA'S former Scotland striker Robert Fleck has joined first

division strugglers Bristol City on a month's loan. The 29-year-old,

bought from Norwich for #2.3m in August, 1992, has not figured in

Stamford Bridge boss Glenn Hoddle's plans this season.

* ENGLISH Coca-Cola Cup semi-final draw:

Liverpool v Crystal Palace, Swindon v Bolton.

First leg to be played week commencing February 12, second leg week

commencing February 19.