IN his previous nine years in the Celtic Youth Academy, Aidan McAdams had always been the No.1 goalkeeper but this season he has been thrust completely out of his comfort zone. And the teenager believes he is better for it.

When he moved up from the Under-17s to the Development Squad in the summer, he suddenly found himself behind the likes of Ross Doohan and Conor Hazard in the pecking order.

From playing every week, he was now consigned to a watching brief from the bench. He responded positively to this difficult predicament, however, working even harder at Lennoxtown to improve the weaker elements of his game.

He had to bide his time but finally in late December he made his first appearance of the season at home to Dunfermline, before dropping back out of the side.

The 17-year-old’s efforts weren’t going unnoticed, though, and when the top team needed further goalkeeper cover for the away match against St Johnstone, McAdams was drafted in as back-up to Craig Gordon and Dorus de Vries.

The following day, he made his second start for the second-string in their 5-2 Glasgow derby victory over Partick Thistle. It was an extremely satisfying 48 hours for the Scotland youth internationalist after months of little tangible reward.

And speaking exclusively to the Celtic View, McAdams admitted this flurry of involvement had been a timely boost for him ahead of the closing months of the campaign.

How tough was it to be the back-up goalkeeper in the first half of the season after being a regular for the 17s?