Links to Celtic were always going to be inevitable for Sydney van Hooijdonk, but the on-loan Norwich City striker has confirmed he held no talks with the Scottish champions this winter. 

City moved to sign van Hooijdonk after Adam Idah expressed his desire to depart the club on loan. Ironically, the Irishman ended up joining Celtic for the remainder of the campaign.

That opened the door for van Hooijdonk to move to Carrow Road from Bologna on a loan-to-buy deal. The 24-year-old is yet to make a start for the Canaries since his move was confirmed on deadline day. 

Van Hooijdonk's name was linked with Celtic throughout the January window, and speculation with the Glasgow giants was always going to be inevitable given his father, Pierre, represented the club between 1995-97. 

The striker has admitted to being a Celtic fan and even to having conversations with the club last summer - but has revealed there were no moves to take him to Glasgow in the recent transfer window. 

"To be honest, I didn't speak with Celtic this winter. You see a lot of things, but this winter, I didn't speak with them. Yes, last summer, there was a bit," van Hooijdonk told the Pink Un. 

"It is a lovely club, and I am a fan of them as well, but the Championship and a team that is fighting for the play-offs was really nice.

"This league is at a higher level than that league, so I'm really happy to be here."

There has been much excitement surrounding van Hooijdonk since his arrival in Norfolk, but David Wagner has called for patience as he hands the Dutchman a period of adaptation. 

The Pink Un: Sydney van Hooijdonk's football for Norwich City has come off the bench so far.Sydney van Hooijdonk's football for Norwich City has come off the bench so far. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Van Hooijdonk is understanding of that approach - and hopes to play a role in Norwich's push for the Championship play-off places. 

"It will come. Of course, I want it, and I came here to play as much as I could. I also came because it is a nice opportunity with the team battling for a play-off place. The start and the game time will come more and more, I have no doubt. 

"When I see us play right now, it's high quality, and we are scoring a lot and winning games quite easily," he said. 

"There is so much competition and so many teams fighting for the same spot. It is hard to say with 12 games left, but there will be a lot of twists, and in the last games we will see where we stand. We have a good chance."