LIEL ABADA has revealed he has gone into extra-time in his bid to gain a regular first-team spot at Celtic.
The Israeli international has been at the centre of transfer speculation in recent months, but the 21-year-old wide Bhoy has dismissed the reports and insisted he is concentrating totally on becoming a first pick for Ange Postecoglou.
Abada was one of the new Hoops gaffer’s first signings for the club when he arrived on a £3.75million deal from Maccabi Petah Tikva in July 2021, a month after the Greek-Australian had been named as the long-term successor to Neil Lennon.
THAT’S MY BHOYS…Ange Postecoglou congratulates Liel Abada and Matt O’Riley after the 2-1 League Cup Final win over Michael Beale’s Ibrox side in February.
Ignoring talks of a move, the winger said: “I don’t really care about any of the things being said about my future. I just care about giving 100 per cent in training and in games. I am happy here and that’s the most important thing.
“We have won the league and we have the next target to win the Scottish Cup to complete the treble. That is our focus to complete our target.
“For me, right now I am Celtic and I don’t care about the summer or anything else.”
Abada, who has scored 10 goals from the same number of starts in the Premiership, is desperate to get more game-time and hopes to be in at the kick-off for tomorrow afternoon’s sixth and final derby of the campaign.
UP AND OVER…Liel Abada takes to the air as Borna Barisic lunges into a tackle.
He claimed a first-half double in the champions’ four-goal romp at Parkhead in September, but has used mainly as a substitute since the turn of the year.
Abada understands the situation with Filipe Jota and Daizen Maeda two of the first names on the manager’s team list while Sead Haksabanovic has also proved to be handy man to have among the stand-by squad.
The nine times-capped flanker, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “Yeah, when you play at a club like Celtic there are a lot of great players. There is a lot of competition and a lot of fight around the place to play. For me, I just give 100 per cent at every training session.
“As a squad, we work hard every day because everyone wants to play. In the end, it’s the coach’s decision. Every player works hard at every club, but you have to fight for your place at Celtic.
“You want to do the best for the team. The standard is very high in the training sessions because it’s top players. You can then do extra with the staff to work in more things. It’s helped me a lot to improve.”
ON THE BALL…Harry Kewell has been a great influence on Liel Abada.
Abada admitted to additional work with coach Harry Kewell, who reached the heights at club level with Liverpool and Leeds United and on the international front with Australia.
The youngster added: “I work with him a lot and it’s a big help.
“We do extra sessions after training and we look at what we need to improve on and do better. He looks after us and it’s very important.
“I think quicker now. In the Champions League, you don’t get too much time on the ball, so you have to think very fast. I think I have improved that side of my game.
“I work on that in training and it’s helped me a lot. The staff and manager has helped me improve on that and get better.”
