Battle Stations

Eoghan O’Connell has enjoyed an impressive start to the season and the Irish defender is relishing the challenges ahead to remain in the starting XI.

THOSE expecting Eoghan O’Connell to be content with a handful of first-team games and to relinquish his spot in the Celtic side without a ferocious fight obviously don’t know the Irish youngster.

After being completely out the picture last season, a series of injuries in central defence prompted Brendan Rodgers to hand the 21-year-old a start away to FC Astana in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.

His steady and assured performance in that testing tussle and over the ensuing fixtures – some of the most crucial ones in the entire campaign - has seen O’Connell preserve his place in the team, despite the return from injury of more experienced personnel.

While delighted by his upturn in fortunes in the early part of the season, it has only increased the Celtic Youth Academy graduate’s hunger to remain in the side.

O’Connell has always had a strong belief in his ability to thrive at the highest level, which has been augmented by his recent displays, and he told this week’s Celtic View that he’s relishing the battle for his position from a host of international players.

How pleasing has it been for you that you have kept your place in the team despite several experienced central defenders returning to fitness?

I know the competition for places will be big when everyone gets back fit and I have to stay at the best level I can and hope the nod goes my way. It’s a big thing for me to play in big games and I have been really happy to get the nod and there’s not much more I can do other than train and perform at the best level I can and take each game as it comes and try to stay in the team.

You have been involved in a number of high-pressure games. How do you feel you have coped with all these challenges?