JOHN HARTSON insists Celtic should not be put off attempting to sign Dundee United striker Nadir Ciftci if he is found guilty of biting in Sunday's Tayside derby.

It is alleged Ciftci sank his teeth into Dundee midfielder Jim McAlister's knee as the two players tangled on the pitch - a claim strenuously denied at Tannadice.

The SFA have launched an investigation into the incident and there is little doubt the Turkish striker faces a lengthy suspension if he is found guilty.

However, former Celtic striker Hartson says this should not dampen the determination of Ronny Deila to make a move for Ciftci this summer, much in the same way that Barcelona completed a deal for Luis Suarez from Liverpool despite his shocking behaviour at last year's Brazil World Cup.

Hartson said: "He's a player I like. He's strong, he's big, but there is no place for that in football.

"I have not seen, it but if he is guilty and it's plain to see there is no room for it. You can accept an elbow and people throwing their arms out, but there is no place for biting.

"I don't know if it will put people off. I've always thought people should be given another chance. Barcelona weren't put off Suarez, were they? He will have to face his punishment and take it on the chin. If he learns from it and moves on, then why not?

"He is a very good player. He has physical presence and someone like myself who throws his weight around.

"He could be like Chris Sutton - someone that Anthony Stokes and Leigh Griffiths could play off. So I don't think it will put Celtic off.

"If it puts him out of a few matches and they won't have him until four or five games into the season they might think about it then.

"But if they get him on a three or four-year contract then that time could be made up."

Hartson was infamously involved in a training ground incident with Eyal Berkovic at West Ham when he kicked the Israeli striker on the face.

Even although he was a hugely successful striker in English football and a major force for Celtic in the Martin O'Neill era, that act of thuggery has followed him.

He said: "I was 19 when the Berkovic thing happened 21 years ago and when I talk to West Ham fans they don't talk about my 40 goals and how I single-handedly kept them up.

"People always remember the negative and it might be the same for Ciftci. But he is on the verge of a big move to Parkhead."