Eoghan O’Connell knew that Wednesday’s match against Astana was the ‘now or never’ moment in his Celtic career.
After one top team appearance last season, away to Dundee United when Ronny Deila played a shadow XI between the games against Malmo, loan spells at Oldham and Cork City failed to deliver the game time he required.
Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney have bridged the gap between the development squad and the first team with O’Connell looking to continue that trend.
With Kolo Toure added to the squad before the flight to Kazakhstan Rodgers’ defensive options had just been increased- not that O’Connell needed that fact spelt out.
“The manager said to me before the game to take this game and then build on it,” the defender revealed. “That is what I will be looking to do.
“It is something I have to build on. There is no point in me staying here, playing a game and then taking a step down.
“I will be looking to push on from this. Of course I will.
O’Connell added: “I had a fair idea I would play from the build-up in training during the week but it was obviously just when the manager called out the team before the game. I was mentally prepared to go and when he named the team I was ready.
“I took confidence from my performance on Saturday (against Leicester). After that I knew I had a fair chance. I was ready to go.
“I knew there were a few injuries and stuff but it is a very big game for the club and I knew it would take a lot of trust for them to give me my debut in such a game. I’ve never played in Europe before.
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