If Saturday afternoon was a nostalgic look largely at what used to be – Henrik Larsson, Joos Valgaeren, John Mjallby, Stiliyan Petrov and Jackie McNamara all offering a vision of what was once de rigueur at Celtic Park – there might have been something a little more tangible to come out of what was an entertaining kick-about all in the name of charity.

Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor found the net after being set up by Larsson, but the sight of the 31-year-old scoring in a Celtic shirt may not be entirely confined to the memory of a Saturday stroll in the name of raising money for cancer research.

Capped three times by England, Agbonlahor is currently a free agent and in the aftermath of Saturday’s game the striker was eager to talk up his chances of planting a flag north of the border.

"I think every player if they had the chance to play for Celtic would take it,” he said. "Can you imagine playing in front of 60,000 people inside this place.

"I told one of the lads I'd get sent off in the first minute due to adrenalin and sheer excitement. I have always thought what a great stadium this is and that it produces a magnificent atmosphere especially during Old Firm games.

"When the Celtic fans start singing that song: 'You'll Never Walk Alone' it has always given me goosebumps watching it on TV. It would be something else to actually play in it.”

While it was the Celtic Foundation and the respective foundations of Petrov and James Milner who will benefit from the game that was taken in by around 20,000 supporters, there could be a draw for Brendan Rodgers’ side too.

Rodgers, sporting his civvies on Saturday afternoon as he relaxed in the dug-out, might have had cause to reflect on just what a youthful Larsson would have brought to his team. Still sporting his trademark leanness and deft touch – a nutmeg of Joe Hart brought forth a loud ‘boo’ from the stadium announcer after the impending goal was cleared off the line – Larsson and Robbie Keane already seem like a throwback as to when the financial climate was not so entirely restrictive.

There was an intriguing thought, then, when Agbonlahor issued his come-and-get-me-plea.

"You can never rule anything out - can you?” he said. "I will try and speak to Brendan Rodgers and we will see what happens!

"At the moment I am considering my options. I want to do what is best for me and my family. I have young kids and for me to move to another place and another country is a big decision for me. I definitely want to play on and I wouldn't rule anything out.

“Me and my agent will decide what happens next.”

The striker is without a club after being released by Villa but he has been training himself in order to stay fit.

"I'm good and raring to go,” he maintained. "I am fit and I have been keeping myself ticking over.

"You have to. Even in a game like Saturday’s you want to win the game. Every player has that competitive edge.”

Agbonlahor’s 17-year association with Villa brought forth 87 goals for the club and is the club’s record Premier League goalscorer. Could he do it in Scotland?

"It is a tough league,” he said. “If you look at the teams there is Celtic, Rangers, Aberdeen, Hibs and Hearts who all have some great players in their sides.

"If an opportunity comes for me to play in Scotland and the move is right for me and my family then I would take it.

"From growing up watching Old Firm games I would have followed Celtic. I was at Aston Villa with Stiliyan, Martin and Chris and they are all massive Celtic supporters.

"It is a massive club and even just to come here and play in a charity match is an honour. When Stiliyan asked me to play I said: "Yes, put my name down first!'

"You want to do your bit for charity as well as play alongside some superstars.”

Capped by England three times, the striker also believes that the addition of Steven Gerrard to the Scottish football landscape has increased the draw of the game south of the border.

The former Liverpool captain lost his first game against Celtic last weekend but in terms of the broader picture, Agbonlahor expects that there is a degree of intrigue again in what is going on in Scottish football.

"More people are tuning into Scottish football down south because Steven Gerrard is now the manager of Rangers,” he said.

"There was huge interest in last week's Old Firm game.

"The English press built it up a lot more and it was being shown every minute on SKY Sports. Everybody was watching that game. I rushed home myself to see it. I got in at 11am and I knew the kick-off was at 12 but I just wanted to watch all the build-up.

"It is a fascinating game."

The striker might get off the sofa for a closer look."