Former Celtic striker John Hartson is confident Hoops boss Gordon Strachan will persuade Shaun Maloney to remain at Parkhead.

The 23-year-old midfielder's contract negotiations stalled recently and he will be free to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club in January.

But Hartson, who moved to West Brom in the summer after five seasons at Celtic Park, told Scottish Television: "Gordon Strachan will be telling Shaun that this is the club for him.

"If the player is not happy then you have to look at that but from what I can remember when I was at the club, the manager and Shaun got on really well.

"Obviously Gordon played for Aberdeen and Shaun is an Aberdeen lad so because of the respect they have for each other, if there is anybody who can keep him at the club it will be Gordon Strachan."

Hartson's career in Scotland would have taken a different turn had he not failed a medical at Rangers before he signed for the Hoops in 2001.

But the Welshman insists he has no regrets:

"In hindsight, it was the best thing that ever happened to me. If I had signed for Rangers, I might have got injured and I might not have had the success I enjoyed at Celtic.

"I failed the medical and then I had the chance to join Celtic and it was one of those situations, I believe, where everything happens for a reason.

"And playing for Rangers wasn't meant to happen."