Toronto coach Paul Mariner was delighted by Darren O’Dea’s debut despite going down to a 1-0 defeat from Sporting Kansas City.
O’Dea returned from international duty in Serbia where he played a full 90 minutes, travelled through a few time zones then made his debut for Toronto.
“When you factor in his [traveling], how many miles has he flown and then a quick turnaround, playing against one of the best teams in MLS, I thought he acquitted himself unbelievably well,” Mariner said. “He’s talking at the back, he’s commanding the line. He’s everything I want, absolutely everything.”
After loan spells at Reading, Ipswich and Leeds United whilst still a Celtic player O’Dea is hoping to put some roots down in Toronto whilst also pursuing his international career.
Making your debut 48 hours after a tiring international wasn’t ideal but down to earth O’Dea appreciates the life that football has given him.
“People work nine-to-five,” he explained. “I wouldn’t want to be doing that, so I’m happy to be flying around the world playing football matches in different places. I’m not complaining.
“Losing is bitterly disappointing. “I think you don’t need to play well in football matches, it doesn’t need to be pretty but you need to come away something and I think for the large part that was our best spell in the game as well. It was one of these things, it’s probably preventable, but you can talk about it all day … so it’s about time we start doing something.”
Tomorrow Toronto are away to Colombus Crew.
CLICK HERE for Hellsingborg fan gives his Celtic view
Follow Video Celts on Twitter and Facebook
good luck to him , he was a commited player and I hope he does well