Celtic capture Samaras and Mizuno

Celtic FC have completed the loan signing of Manchester City FC's Greece striker Georgios Samaras, who will spend the rest of the season with the Scottish champions, and also brought in Japanese international Koki Mizuno.

'Really delighted'

Scoring struggles
Samaras has found first-team opportunities hard to come by at the City of Manchester Stadium this season having moved to England in an €8m switch from SC Heerenveen in January 2006. In total, the 22-year-old managed eight goals in 55 Premier League matches for City, but has started only two league games this term. He will hope for better fortune at Celtic.

Barcelona test
Samaras may make his debut in the UEFA Champions League as his new side face FC Barcelona in the first knockout round with the first game in Glasgow on 20 February and the return game at Camp Nou on 4 March. "I've never played in the Champions League before and I will do my best to get to the next round," he said. "It will be very difficult against Barcelona but in football you never know. I try to give 100 per cent in each game and, of course, to have the mentality to win every game."

Mizuno move
The 22-year-old Mizuno, meanwhile – who has won four caps for Japan – joins on a three-and-a-half year deal from JEF United Ichihara in his homeland. The midfielder scored 13 goals in 86 league appearances for the Japanese club, for whom he made his J-League debut in 2004.