Boubacar Sanogo calls off Celtic trial

AS Saint-Etienne striker Boubacar Sanogo’s trial with Celtic has been put on hold, because of a problem with the player’s teeth.

The Ivorian international was due to join Katlego Mphela at training at Lennoxtown this week, with manager Neil Lennon confirming on Friday the duo would link up with his squad.

But STV has learned Sanogo decided against travelling to Scotland and his agent, Jeannot Werth, is hopeful Celtic will give the player another opportunity next month.

“At the moment Boubacar is not fit," Werth told STV. “He has a problem with his teeth, so he will not be travelling to Glasgow this week.

“He is not 100 per cent fit. Maybe if Celtic are still interested in one or two weeks, when Boubacar is fit, then maybe he can go to Glasgow then."

Sanogo has been with Saint Etienne for two years, having moved to France from Werder Bremen. He also played in Germany with Hamburg and Kaiserslautern.

The striker started his career in Tunisia, before moving to the UAE with Al Ain. A record of almost a goal every game saw interest from Europe, before Kaiserslautern snapped him up.

The 28-year-old has been capped 18 times for his country, scoring eight goals, including three in the 2008 African Nations Cup.