IT is fair to say the reaction among Celtic supporters to the prospect of Aberdeen and Scotland centre half Scott McKenna joining them before the summer transfer window closes next week has been far from enthusiastic.

Fans of the Parkhead club have, despite the domestic and European success they have savoured under Brendan Rodgers in the past two seasons, yearned for a commanding and cultured centre half to be signed for some time now.

For a large percentage, Kristoffer Ajer and Jack Hendry are, at the moment at least, too young and inexperienced while Jozo Simunovic is too injury-prone and unreliable.

Even Dedryck Boyata, who played four times for Belgium in the Russia 2018 finals this summer, had his fair share of detractors before his well-publicised fallout with his employers due to the mistakes he had made in high-profile outings.

Supporters can still recall the high level that Victor Wanyama and Virgil van Dijk – foreign players who were bought for nominal fees and sold for substantial profits after giving years of exceptional service - performed at both at home and abroad and would like to see an individual capable of attaining those standards brought in.

So is McKenna, who only established himself as a first team regular at Aberdeen last season and won four caps for Scotland, that man? A few fans are in favour of moving for a footballer who has attracted the interest of Aston Villa, Hull City and Swansea City in recent months. Many, though, remain to be convinced.

The 21-year-old, who stands at 6ft 3in in his studs, is certainly an imposing athlete who has impressed with his physicality and mobility since finally making his breakthrough at Pittodrie in the 2017/18 campaign.

His eagerness to learn and dedication to his profession have also won him many admirers with coaching staff and both club and country and he looks set to be a fixture with his national team for some time to come.

But can he be the defensive rock who helps Celtic to maintain their dominance of the Scottish game and complete 10-In-A-Row? Is he capable to making the step up to the Champions League in future? Or even the Europa League for that matter?

McKenna was farmed out to Championship club Ayr United on loan just last season and struggled to hold down a regular first team place at Somerset Park when they were still part-time. Making such a step up is asking a lot. Would he cope?

Neil Cooper worked with McKenna during the time that he spent as a youth coach at Aberdeen and gave him his debut for the under-20 side there when he was schoolboy aged just 15.

Cooper certainly knows a good centre half when he sees one having played in the position himself and been unable to get into the Dons side due to the presence of Alex McLeish and Willie Miller in the 1970s.

The man who helped St Mirren beat Dundee United to lift the Scottish Cup in 1987 has been unsurprised by his former player’s dramatic rise to prominence.

“Scott is a great guy, an honest professional, a hard-working lad,” he said. “I am really pleased how well he has done. He deserves it.

“He was always a well-built boy even when he was a teenager. Obviously, he is full-time now and he has worked on his strength and fitness with the sports science team at Aberdeen and that has improved his condition further.

“Scotty is very strong in the air, but he is good on the deck as well. He is powerful and won’t get muscled off the ball. He won’t get beaten in one-on-one situations. He is just a good solid centre half.

“He isn’t an Alan Hansen type, He isn’t going to take the ball and start knocking it about. But he will lead by example the centre half. He will get better as well. He is still young. Time is on his side and he will improve as he gains more experience.”

Cooper feels that McKenna, who played for Scotland against Costa Rica, Hungary, Peru and Mexico last season and captained his country in his last run-out, has matured as a consequence of his appearances for the national team.

“They will have helped his confidence,” he said. “When you are a young boy and you get a chance you have to show you can handle the situation. When you are a centre half you have to take responsibility to organise as well, when your team is in possession and out of possession. He has done that at international level and he has gone from strength to strength.”

Cooper believes McKenna’s performance against Burnley in the Europa League second qualifying round – Aberdeen took opponents who finished eighth in the Premier League in England last season to extra-time– proves he is capable of performing at a higher level.

“Scotty has always been very level-headed,” he said. “He acquitted himself really well, along with all of his team mates, when Aberdeen played Burnley in Europa League qualifying. Burnley have done fantastically well in the Premier League down south in recent seasons. So he has shown he can handle that quality of opposition at a young age.”

Hull had an offer of £2 million rejected by Aberdeen this summer for their prized asset to Celtic would have to offer significantly more than that if they take their interest in the defender, who is under contract until 2023, further.

“Brendan Rodgers will know what he can do and have an idea he sees him developing in the future,” said Cooper. “If Celtic make an offer it is up to Aberdeen to decide what to do. Derek McInnes will know what he is worth.

“He has attracted a lot of attention. But the good thing from Aberdeen’s point of view is he is on a long-term contract. In the past, clubs have come and taken young boys Fraser Fyvie, Jack Grimmer, Chris Maguire and Ryan Fraser for very small fees or for free.”