Fran Alonso hopes Celtic deadline day swoop for Leicester’s Natasha Flint will boost team’s silverware hunt

FRAN ALONSO joked Natasha Flint’s prowess on the pitch made him suffer during his stint at the helm of Lewes Women.

The Celtic Women’s boss made his remarks after the Scottish Women’s Premier League side signed the Leicester forward on loan.

Flint’s temporary move until the end of this season, confirmed before today’s 5pm deadline for WSL domestic transfers, ends weeks of speculation linking her to a Ghirls switch.

Her transfer comes in a season that has seen the forward make five starts in the nine WSL matches for the Foxes netting once across those games.

However the Salford-born forward, who began her senior career at Manchester City, finished as top scorer in the Women’s Championship during Leicester’s storming run in the 2020-21 season.

She netted 17 goals in 20 appearances during the Foxes’ charge to the Championship title and promotion to the WSL.

And during a three-year Blackburn Rovers spell from 2017 to 2020, Flint bagged 70 goals in 60 appearances across all competitions.

Efforts include an equaliser against Lewes during a match that saw Rovers hammered 5-1 in August 2019 when the Spain-born head coach was still in charge of the Rooks.

Alonso, who has previously worked as an assistant to Mauricio Pochettino during his reign 2013-14 reign as Southampton boss, said:  “I’ve known her for a few years and I suffered a few times when she scored against my previous team.

“Tash is a gifted player with fantastic finishing ability, has great one-v-one skills and very good long-range shooting, so in terms of weapons, she brings a lot to the team.'

“On top of that, she brings lots of experience at the highest level and I’m hoping the move to Celtic will add more silverware to her CV.”

Flint’s move to the SWPL title chasers comes in a month in which Leicester added Remy Siemsen to their attacking ranks the player joining from Australian side Sydney FC on January 12.

However the Australia striker is currently unavailable for Foxes duty having sustained an injury.

Flint could be in line to make her Celtic debut when her club who are second in the SWPL take on Aberdeen.

Alonso’s side are currently second in Scotland’s top tier and three points behind title rivals Glasgow City.

Celtic are chasing their first SWPL title win, having finished as runners-up on three occasions in the past 14 years.

Glasgow City have been the division's most dominant force winning 15 league titles in the past 16 years.