The Youth Interview Learning Goals

Goalkeeper Liam Hughes on stepping up to the matchday squad and training with the best in the country

- TONY CONNELLY

In the space of 10 days, 18-year-old goalkeeper Liam Hughes stepped up to Neil Lennon’s matchday squad for games against Motherwell, Clyde, Hearts and Aberdeen.

Afterwards, the Northern Ireland Under-21 internationalist admitted being part of the first-team fold offered invaluable experience – as did training with Fraser Forster, Scott Bain and goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods at Lennoxtown.

Last week, the young stopper was back between the sticks for the reserves as Tommy McIntyre’s men overcame Aberdeen 4-0. Hughes didn’t have an inordinate amount to do over 90 minutes, but was nevertheless delighted with a clean sheet and a comfortable victory.

From here, Hughes targets more involvement with the Celtic senior side, and a place in the Northern Ireland Under-19 side at this summer’s European Championships.

HOW DID YOU FIND THE RESERVES’ ABERDEEN WIN?

It was a good win, and the weather conditions were quite poor. Aberdeen are a good side, they made it tough, but getting the early goals helped us settle and we went from there. I thought we kept the ball and played some decent football in the first half. It was a little bit scrappier in the second half, but we dragged it out and I was pleased to keep a clean sheet. I didn’t have too much to do myself, I had one save and a few crosses, but the guys in front were solid, which is good for me. In the reserves, the back four chops and changes enough, with players moving up to the first team – people like Stephen Welsh, for example – and then coming back down, so it was good for us to put in a good defensive performance.