Keeper's Doohan Fine

Young shot-stopper, Ross Doohan has taken a step up to the fringes of the top team now that Conor Hazard is out on loan

- Tony Connelly

GOALKEEPER Ross Doohan has been a Celt for seven years now, but 2018 is set to be his most significant year yet as the young stopper adapts to the routine of being in the first-team squad and edging that bit closer to a chance to shine at Paradise.

The 19-year-old from Clydebank has just returned from a six-month loan spell at Morton and is now looking to build on the experience as he familiarises himself with the challenge of training with the first team.

“With Conor Hazard going out on loan, I’ve come into the third-choice position now,” said Doohan in an exclusive interview with the Celtic View. “That was always the plan, for me to go out on loan for the first half of the season, then come back and be in and around the first team for the remainder of the season.

“The loan was beneficial in terms of seeing the different set-ups at other clubs. It really made me appreciate even more just how much we get here at Lennoxtown compared to the facilities other clubs have.

“As soon as I got the loan sorted I was keen to show what I could do. Unfortunately, I never started for the first team during the loan spell so it was disappointing not to play or get a chance, but it was still a good experience and there are lessons I can take from it which will help me.”