BOBBY PETTA has told fellow-countryman Virgil van Dijk he needs to maintain a consistently high standard if he is to win a move to a bigger league.

 

The 23-year-old Dutch defender has been another success story for Celtic in terms of fitting into their system of gambling on promising young players.

That he will ultimately move on seems a matter of when, rather than if, but former Hoops winger Petta believes the player needs to continue with the standard he has set for himself.

Signed by Neil Lennon 18 months ago, Van Dijk quickly established himself in the Hoops first team. There has been talk of a move to either the English Premier League or the Continent almost since those early first days at the club, but in recent months his performances have slipped a little, particularly in the European arena.

And while it is perhaps inevitable to expect some distraction on the part of the player as the January transfer window opens and interest in him is rekindled, Petta has warned he needs to operate at the highest level possible.

Petta believes Van Dijk has the maturity to handle the speculation and that he will not be jumping at the first move that comes up.

There was some suggestion he might have left Celtic this summer, but Petta, who has got to know the defender over the last 18 months from his Glasgow base, believes that he will be keen to weigh things up and will move only if everything is right.

And he is confident that there is still much to gain for both player and club by staying together for at least the remainder of the season.

With a forthcoming Old Firm Scottish Cup tie on the horizon as well as a mouth-watering Europa League game against Inter Milan, Celtic will want to keep their squad together in this window and Petta believes that will be in everyone's best interest.

"Virgil loves Celtic, he enjoys the city and the club and I don't think he will be unsettled by any talk of moving," he said. "Players all know that if they are doing their talking on the pitch that there will always be scouts looking at you and clubs will be interested.

"That is football. Celtic have been good for Virgil. He has improved a lot as a player but of course he will want to keep testing himself and that means moving to a bigger level. Everyone knows that there are not many clubs bigger than Celtic but you do have to say that the league is not as challenging as it was a decade ago.

"There are bigger environments to play football and that is just life. But Virgil himself is a very grounded lad. He has his sights on the pitch because he knows that it is only be performing every time he crosses the white line that he will improve and move on.

"As a player you know that if you do well consistently that a move will come. He has his head screwed on. I don't think he is the kind to be fazed by any talk of a move because almost from the very first months of being at Celtic people were talking of him going to the Premiership."

International recognition for Gus Hiddink's side will be the next ambition for the player who has been capped at under-19 and under-21 level and playing in Scotland doubtless makes that a bigger challenge to achieve, as Petta himself is well aware.

But, with Holland currently fighting hard to secure an automatic place at the 2016 European Championships - surprise back-to-back defeats from Iceland and Mexico have left them lagging in their group - it could be that the time is approaching for Van Dijk to get his chance at that level.

The defender has been included in Hiddink's squad but has yet to be capped. He was benched for the defeat to Iceland earlier this month but watched the Mexico defeat from the stand and, interestingly, there has been growing momentum for his inclusion in the squad from supporters and critics in his homeland.

Legendary Dutch star Ruud Gullit called on Hiddink to give him his international debut and Petta has acknowledged that plying his trade in Scotland has made it harder for him to be recognised at full international level.

"Yes, that has always been the case, even when you are playing in the UEFA Champions League or in the Europa League," he said. "It can be frustrating. But, again, he knows that if he keeps at it on the pitch and tries to shine in the bigger games then it is harder to ignore him.

"That is all he can do for now. In terms of January and the transfer window, who knows? People assume that it is very black and white, but it is not really.

"If a move is made for him it has to suit everyone - the club and the player. He knows what standard of club he wants to go to next and I don't think he would be prepared to move just for more money. Of course, money is important and that will be a big factor but he wants to play at a high level too.

"And for Celtic, this is business. This is the model they have used successfully for a number of years now and it is working. They have gambled on a relatively unknown guy who has then shown his potential when given the chance and they will stand to make a good return on their investment.

"As a club, that makes sense. It works well for everyone. But they too will not be prepared to sell to the first club who come knocking. They know that they have a cracking player and they won't cash in on him for the sake of it.

"That may mean that the transfer window comes and goes and he remains with Celtic. That would be fine for him because there is the Europa League to look forward to after Christmas and that will keep his profile relatively high.

"I think everyone will accept he will go but for so long as he is at Celtic his focus will be completely on the club. He has managed to make a success of his time at the club by working hard at his game and being consistent and I don't think that he will take his eye off the ball now."