THE BATTLE FOR No.1

WINNER TO SINNER Kasper Schmeichel helped Celtic clinch the Premiership trophy but blunder in Scottish Cup Final cost them a Treble

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REFUGEE WORLD CUP Packie Bonner helps launch tournament BY MICHAEL GANNON PACKIE BONNER had such a fierce scrap on his hands to keep hold of the Celtic No.1 shirt he called up MPs for hauners.

And he reckons Kasper Schmeichel might have a similar fight to stop Viljami Sinisalo snatching the jersey next season.

Bonner knows what it’s like to be the main man at Parkhead and have others determined to take your place.

The Irish legend saw off plenty in nearly two decades and the sight of Shay Given back in town last week brought back memories of a particularly tough time.

Bonner had Gordon Marshall and Stewart Kerr as competition in the mid-90s but there was also Given coming up the ranks and future USA star Brad Friedel on the books.

Those two would depart, go on to make more than 1000 Premier League appearances between them, and hoover up more than 200 caps.

Bonner said: “That's some list of goalkeepers. I was thinking, get rid of him, get rid of him, don't give him a chance!

“Brad couldn't get his work permit. I was talking to the politicians, saying don't give him one! You've got to fend them off!”

Schmeichel is in the same boat now with Sinisalo pushing hard and Ross Doohan set to return to the club from Aberdeen.

The big Dane enjoyed a superb first season in Scotland but suffered a disappointing end with a blunder in the Scottish Cup Final.