Paddy McCourt has admitted that he’d have quit Celtic if it had been any other club.
The mercurial Derryman is a cult figure amongst the support with his cameo roles and solo goals adding to the regard that he’s held in.
McCourt didn’t start any SPL game last season but appeared as a substitute 13 times with his two starting appearances coming in the Scottish Cup and Europa League.
His journey from Derry to Paradise took an unconventional route via Stockport and Dublin but despite his lack of starting appearances his love of the club is as strong as ever.
“Celtic is the only club I’d have stayed at in these circumstances, what with not getting as much game time as I would like,” he admitted.
“I went to England as a 16-year-old, hoping to earn a move to Celtic one day. That’s what I dreamed of and when I went home to Ireland after it didn’t work out in English football, I thought it had gone for me.
“So to get a second chance and actually join Celtic, you tend to hang on a wee bit more in the hope that things will change and you will play more.
“I’ve got no regrets. Since the first minute I walked through the door, I’ve loved every minute of it. If I stay, I will keep contributing to the team as much as I can. I won’t ever play for another club like this.
“I’ve got a year left on my contract here so it’s maybe the last roll of the dice for me. I would imagine that if I don’t play more this year I would be very unlikely to still be here next year.”
McCourt has featured regularly in centre midfield in Celtic’s pre-season matches where his eye for a pass has stood out.
Neil Lennon has got half a dozen candidates looking for a place in the middle of the park with the former Derry City man more than happy to add his name to that list.
“Towards the end of last season the manager started playing me in there for a few games,” McCourt added. “Coming off the bench and into central midfield. I enjoy it in there as you get plenty of the ball.
“If that’s where he sees me playing, I’ve no problem with that. I feel quite comfortable there.
“Sometimes when you’re playing out wide you can stand for 10 to 15 minutes and not see the ball whereas in the central areas you’re a lot more involved, especially with the way we play where everything goes through the midfield.
“We don’t lump it long too often. At times I’ve done well in there but it’s up to the manager now if he wants me to play there. The problem is that we don’t really play a formation which accommodates a number 10, if you like.
“The manager likes 4-4-2, with two strikers, and our strikers have done well with Anthony Stokes and Gary Hooper scoring a lot of goals. I know we played Kris Commons in that different role in a different formation a few times at the end of last season, but on the whole we go 4-4-2.”
McCourt finished the friendly against Norwich City as Celtic captain.
CLICK HERE for Savage serious on offer to Sevco
Follow Video Celts on Twitter and Facebook
God bless the paddy mccourt like lenny celtic to the core hail hail