Paradise Platform

Eboue Kouassi is enjoying life at Celtic and is working hard to stake 

- Mark Henderson

DESPITE a limited command of the English language, in words and demeanour, Eboue Kouassi’s growing confidence and contentment as a Celtic player is palpable.

Only 19 and thrust into an alien environment, the highly-rated Ivory Coast youngster was always going to require a period of adjustment following his January move from FC Krasnodar. It didn’t help that he also lagged behind his new team-mates in terms of fitness levels due to the winter shutdown in Russian football.

Gradually, however, he has started to become accustomed to life on the pitch with the six-in-a-row champions, making one start and three substitute appearances to help Brendan Rodgers’ side extend their unbeaten domestic run since the start of the season to 40 matches.

And as he sat down with the View at Lennoxtown for the first time since the completion of his transfer, Kouassi believes he is ready to make the next step forward in the Hoops and challenge for a starting slot

“I’m settling in well and I’m happy because now I have played some games and had some more time on the pitch,” he said. “Initially it was difficult, but now I feel better and more comfortable playing in the team.

“There is not a big difference between Scottish and Russian football as both are physical and fast. At the start I had a lot of time to watch and I remember one of my first games away to Dundee when I came on and it was a bit catastrophic! But I learned from that and now I feel a lot better.