PIERRE VAN HOOIJDONK is cemented in the Celtic history books as a Parkhead great.

But the Dutchman insists Brian Laudrup was the stand out talent in Scottish football during his time in Glasgow – despite the Dane strutting his stuff across the city at Ibrox.

Van Hooijdonk has fond memories of his battles with the Rangers legend, but admits Laudrup used to drive him mad on the pitch when the pair were trying to outshine each other.

He said: "When I arrived the team was not of Celtic standard. But that summer (1995) Tommy brought in some really good players and we played some attractive, attacking football. 

"We were scoring goals for fun and winning games for fun, but we still could not catch Rangers. 

"They had Brian Laudrup and Paul Gascoigne. I was frustrated. We all were.

"We lost just one game, but we still finished four points behind. 

"We maybe didn't feel we were a better team than Rangers but we felt we were more of a team.

"But Rangers had pure class in their individual players who could easily win games for them.

"Around about November time we felt we were really a force, probably stronger.

"But, again, they had Laudrup. He was different class. He p***** the Scottish League, with two fingers in his nose.

"Seriously, I'd never seen a guy playing on the highest level make football look so easy. If necessary, he just put his feet on the gas pedals and boom. Or he would create something special. He was magnificent.”

Van Hooijdonk made 84 appearances during his time at Celtic Park, scoring 52 goals including a Scottish Cup final winner, before leaving for Nottingham Forest.

The talented striker made the switch to Glasgow after starring for NAC Breda in his homeland, but before his move to Celtic he was well aware that Rangers had been the top dogs in Scottish football and he felt that had to change.

He continued: "Don’t forget Celtic came from far behind. Tommy was building a new team.

"Rangers had dominated Scottish football for a few years and nobody expected us to change that immediately. We came unbelievably close to winning the league, but we didn't.

"Not winning the league the following season was probably more frustrating because you recognised your own team as being capable of winning it.

"What was missing in our group? Maybe the experience of winning. The top players at Rangers had all played for big clubs in Europe and there was always pressure on them to win the title.

"The players Celtic signed were very good players but they came from smaller clubs. So, you have to adapt to that winning attitude and it takes time.

"It was the same for me. It is a different pressure and a different mentality. If we dropped points then the whole week was miserable. 

"But we did win the Scottish Cup in 1995 against Airdrie. It was unbelievable to win the cup. I started the game with a hamstring injury. I picked it up at Seamill on the lawn there in the build-up preparations.

"I was very doubtful but I wanted to play. It was my first final. It was great to score, to get on the end of Tosh McKinlay's cross. I had to come off in the first half as my hamstring was sore.  

"It was a horrible final, we didn't really play well. But I was so happy we won. It was great for Tommy Burns and the supporters.”

The Lockdown Tactics is a brand new podcast, hosted by former Scotland stars Robert Snodgrass and Kris Boyd. Every week TLT will interview big names with the core focus being on Mental Health and Well-being.

It's chosen charity partner is The Kris Boyd Charity.

To watch the full interview with Pierre, go to YouTube and the various TLT social platforms. It will be available from 4pm today (Tuesday).