BHOYS ‘N THE BROTHERHOOD

Greg Taylor hails the team-bonding in Dubai

- TONY CONNELLY

FOR Greg Taylor, Celtic’s training camp in Dubai gave him the chance to get to know his team-mates better, and the defender has returned home with an even greater appreciation of just how hungry this Hoops team are for success. Now, with the title run-in ready to resume, Taylor hopes his work in Dubai has convinced his manager to allow him to play a big part.

The winter break offers the players a brief period of recovery from what has been a hectic first half of the season before they engross themselves in a camp with an element of a mini pre-season about it, to ensure they return for the second half rested and at peak fitness.

“There was a tough amount of games in December,” said Taylor in an exclusive interview with the Celtic View. “To get the wee break is always good for preparing us for the next half of the season because the next few months are key.

“The training was very similar to a pre-season set-up because there’s a lot of hard graft. We did the bleep tests early in the week, and I don’t think anyone really ever enjoys it, but it was done to a very high level from the majority of the squad.

“We did a variety of different things that we don’t usually get the chance to do in training back home because we’re always preparing for games. We got a good mix of work done throughout the week and it’ll only benefit us now that we’re back.

“The temperature was generally in the high 20s or low 30s, so the training was tough in the heat. That’s what you want at this time of year, though. We’ll all benefit from that and I think it’s set us up nicely for the second half of the season.”