Craig Beattie

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Personal information
Craig Beattie

Full name	Craig Beattie
Date of birth	January 16, 1984 (1984-01-16) (age 24)
Place of birth	Glasgow, Scotland
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	West Bromwich Albion
Number	10
Youth clubs
	Rangers
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2003–2007 2007– 2008	Celtic West Bromwich Albion → Preston North End (loan)	50 (13) 21 0(3) 02 0(0)
National team²
2005–	Scotland	07 0(1)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:11, 31 May 2008 (UTC). ² National team caps and goals correct as of 17 Oct 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Craig Beattie (born January 16, 1984 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a Scottish footballer who plays for West Bromwich Albion.

1 Club career
2 International career
- 2.1 International goals
3 Honours
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Club career

Beattie started his career as a schoolboy with Rangers, the team he supported in his youth but, after being released by manager Dick Advocaat, he joined Celtic.

Beattie was a prolific goalscorer throughout his underage Celtic career. During an under-19 pre-season friendly against prominent Irish side Derry City, Beattie scored all six goals in a 6–0 win. Afterwards, Brandywell youth coach James O'Kane said the youngster's pace, guile and finishing prowess had "simultaneously made and ruined my day".

In August 2003 he made his senior debut for the Hoops as substitute in a Champions League qualifying victory against FBK Kaunas. Beattie has featured in numerous high-profile matches – most notably in the UEFA Cup against Barcelona. After scoring four goals near the end of the 2004–05 football season he started the 2005–06 season by becoming the first Scot since Gerry Creaney to score in three consecutive games for Celtic. He netted seven goals in the first three months of the season but an injury suffered against Dundee United forced him out for the remainder of the season.

Due to long-term injury, particularly to the hamstring, the majority of Beattie's appearances have been taken place from the bench. He appeared as substitute in 43 games and had just 23 starts which limited his Celtic career goal tally to just 16. His last Celtic goal came against Aberdeen on 17 February, 2007 in an 2–1 win.

Beattie was signed on a three-year deal by West Bromwich Albion on 3 July 2007 for an initial £1.25m with an added £500,000 depending on performance-related add-ons.^[1] He scored his first hat-trick for the Baggies on August 4, 2007 in a friendly against Dutch side SC Heerenveen.^[2] Beattie made his competitive Albion debut in a 2–1 defeat away at Burnley on 11 August 2007, the opening day of the 2007-08 season.^[3] Three days later he scored his first competitive goal for the club, as Albion beat Bournemouth 1-0 in the League Cup.

Beattie moved to Preston North End on 4 March 2008, on loan until the end of the season.^[4] He made his North End debut later that day in a 1–0 win away at Leicester City, but was substituted after just 38 minutes due to a muscle injury, later revealed to be a double hamstring tear.^[5]^[6] Beattie returned to West Brom early in order to receive treatment for the injury and was expected to miss the rest of the season.^[7] He made a rapid recovery however, and returned to Preston for the final two games of the loan spell,^[8] making one further appearance as a substitute.

[edit] International career

Beattie made his Scotland international debut as a 75th minute substitute in a draw against Italy in September 2005.^[9] He scored his first goal for his country in a 2–1 victory against Georgia.