LIEL ABADA has been a non-starter in the first two games of Celtic’s Premiership defence – but the goalscoring winger WILL play a vital role in the season’s marathon.
The Israeli international came off the substitutes’ bench for the wins over Aberdeen, 2-0 at Parkhead, and Ross County, 3-1 in Dingwall, and made an impact on both encounters.
Abada sealed a well-earned and hard-fought three points in the Highlands with a superbly-taken third goal when he accepted a pass from Filipe Jota and in an instant turned and curled a breathtaking attempt away from the startled Ross Laidlaw.
ON THE BALL…Liel Abada in action against Ross County in Dingwall as Celtic chase down three more points.
The champions have been allowed to ease into the new crusade without the hindrance of midweek Euro qualifiers, but the pace will pick up when the matches are coming thick and fast and Ange Postecoglou’s squad will be put to the test.
Celtic were involved in 60 competitive games last season and they can expect something similar this time out.
The 20-year-old raider, who arrived in a £3.75million switch last July, is ready to stand up and be counted along with his team-mates.
Postecoglou put on Abada to start the second-half after Daizen Maeda sustained a knock just before the break and the manager was confident the touchline ace would deliver, as CQN reported.
The impressive youngster added to efforts from Kyogo Furuhashi and Moritz Jenz to make sure of three crucial points and he admitted: “I am always happy to score goals. Nice ones. Hopefully, I will get more ones like that this season.
“There is a good chance that any one of the players who are in the squad can be chosen for the starting line-up. If I’m not one of those, I’ll still do my hard work and be positive. Then, when I do have a chance, I want to make sure that I help the team.
THREE’N’EASY…Liel Abada swivels to arc in Celtic’s third goal against County with Giorgos Giakoumakis getting a good view.
“We have a lot of games to play at Celtic and that it is a long season here. So, I just look towards my training and then from game-to-game. I’m still young and, after I play in any games, I like to do good recovery after them so that I am ready for the next one and the manager will do what he thinks is right for each game.
“When I get the chances, I want to do all the best for myself and the team. I’m happy that I did it in this game and all of the boys will now keep going and look forward.”
Postecoglou remarked: “We got through last year on fumes at times because we were relying on a core group of players. At the moment we’re okay because we’re playing a game a week, but when we get to the end of the month the big games will be coming every three days and we need more than 11 players.
“The guys who came on were outstanding, all of them made contributions and, if we need to make a change in the team, I feel really comfortable that anyone who is going to take that position is ready for it.”
The title-winners have gone 34 league without a loss – the last time they were beaten was 1-0 in Livingston on September 19 – and they fully intend to maintain the sequence with a High Noon showdown with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park providing the next hurdle.
Abada, speaking to the Daily Record, added: “It is just that we look from game to game and look to do our jobs and play our football.
“The manager is always ready for each of the games and then he always tells us what to do when we are in them. But it’s that we look at it game-to-game. I really hope that we can keep it going.
“All the focus just goes onto the next one. That’s it.”
