Colby Donovan is likely to start for Celtic today at Tannadice in what has to be regarded as a must-win match for the Champions after both Hearts and the Rangers won their home matches yesterday…
With Julian Araujo likely to miss out this afternoon, and Alistair Johnston still a little bit away for his long-awaited return from injury, Donovan is likely to be preferred to Scotland right-back Anthony Ralston by Celtic manager Martin O’Neill when the team sheets are distributed around 11.15am this morning.
Donovan has been speaking to the mainstream media ahead of today’s match, with the Celtic fan media, including The Celtic Star, remain banned by the club for absolutely nothing at all other than their fear of pertinent questions being asked.
Donovan spoke about his Celtic captain, who is likely to start today as Celtic enter the business end of the campaign. The Celtic youngster is certainly impressed by what he sees every day watching Callum McGregor going about his business.
“Cal’s a big part of this team,” Donovan noted, as reported by The Herald. “He plays week in, week out. He’s a real, true leader of this squad and a huge part of the changing room. When we have him available, it’s brilliant. Even times when he’s been out, we’ve always filled his boots.
“Cal’s a great player, a great person. He’s been a big part of me coming through as well. He always helps young boys, giving them tips and not just on the pitch but off it as well.
“You get what you see with Cal. He’s a true leader and a proper legend for this club. It’s mental seeing him playing 50-odd games a season. It’s mad. But that’s what he’s been doing for years.
“I’m sure he’ll continue to do it. I was young, maybe about nine or 10 or something, watching him grow up. Now playing with him and being a good mate of him, it’s just a dream come true.”
Donovan’s enjoying his break-through season where he’s already worked under three managers, Brendan Rodgers, Martin O’Neill (x2) and Wifried Nancy so he’s packed a whole lot of experience in the game into such a short period and is enjoying it immensely.
“It’s been a great season. Ar the start of the season, if you told me I was going to make that many appearances, I probably wouldn’t have believed you, but it came very quick,” Donovan admitted.
“We’re nearly at the end of the season now, and where I am just now is more than what I aimed to achieve at the start, so I’m buzzing.
“There’s pressure every game we play for Celtic, there’s always something on the line, whether it’s the league, cup or the European games, there’s always something to play for. Being at a big club, you’ve always got pressure. You just need to deal with it. I rarely get nervous before games. It’s just another game of football, another time to show people what I can do, so I just take it game by game.”
On today’s significant challenge at Tannadice, where Celtic lost 2-1 just before Christmas with the Hoops leading 1-0 at the break thanks to a Daizen Maeda goal but having passed up a bucketload of chances in that first 45 minutes. They paid a heavy price with Jim Goodwin’s side improving after the interval to grab a 2-1 victory. Celtic have to put that right today if the title retention is to remain on track.
There’s a togetherness about the Celtic squad that Donovan reckons will see Celtic through.
“The group’s been together all season,” the young Celtic star said. “Even through the tough times we’ve been together. So we just need to keep the same way as what we’ve been all season and then hopefully the results come our way.
“We’ve got boys that have been here before. We’ve got boys that have won loads of titles for Celtic and loads of titles elsewhere. So to have them in the changing room and giving points to people like me, it really is huge.
“They’ve [Dundee United] got a good set-up. Jim Goodwin’s got them playing very well. Every game’s a huge game for us, even away from home. We know it’s going to be tough. We’re going to need to dig deep. Hopefully we go over there and play our football and hopefully we’ll come out on top.”
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