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O’Brien on verge of big things at Celtic Versatile Celtic
midfielder Jim O’Brien believes he could make the breakthrough for
the Glaswegian club in 2007 despite facing stiff opposition from other
more experienced players.
Though born in Scotland the 19-year-old declared for the Republic of Ireland
and he spent the second half of last season on loan at Stephen Kenny’s
Dunfermline Athletic where he earned rave reviews.
Amazingly O’Brien, who can also play as a striker, made his senior
League debut for the Pars in their shock 3-2 win over Rangers in the Scottish
Cup last January. In all he played 18 league games for Dunfermline scoring
once against Motherwell.
Now the teenager wants to experience more top-flight action, this time
with his beloved Celtic.
He said this week: “I feel I’ve come back here a better player.
I’ve been looking after myself this summer and I am really determined
to make a good start.
“The morale is great here amongst the squad and I’ve been
speaking to some of the other lads who have been out on loan just about
their experiences.
“Everyone in the squad here is quite close and I think all of the
boys are already looking forward to that first game and the chance to
get out and impress.”
At international level O’Brien has also impressed with Sean McCaffrey’s
Republic of Ireland U-19s side and many are already tipping him for great
things at senior level in years to come.
O’Brien has been busy trying to catch Gordon Strachan’s eye
in pre-season and the Irish international scored with a scintillating
second-half volley for the Bhoys to give the SPL Champions a 2-1 win over
Irish-owned Peterborough United in a friendly last Friday.
While O’Brien has the ability to push for a step up the ladder at
Celtic Park the recent acquisitions of attacking midfielders Scott Brown
from Hibernian for £4.4million and AC Milan’s Massimo Donati
for £3million may well make an already difficult task a little more
gruelling. |
