HOOPS PAIR POISED FOR SWITCH

LIAM SHAW and Osaze Urhoghide are heading for loan deals after just six months at Celtic – and two starts between them.

The Sheffield Wednesday double-act were on their way to Parkhead before Ange Postecoglou was named as Neil Lennon’s full-time successor in June.

Midfielder Shaw and defender Urhoghide were the first two in before the Greek-Australian added TEN more new faces in his revamp of a first-team squad that also saw the likes of skipper Scott Brown, Odsonne Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer, Ryan Christie and Olivier Ntcham quit the Parkhead outfit after a wretched season.

GREEN FOR GO…Liam Shaw during his nine-minute substitute’s appearance in the goalless draw against St Mirren in Paisley last month.

The 20-year-old Englishman and the Dutchman, 21, were brought in as development players and Postecoglou has made it clear he needs recruits to hit the ground running.

The manager has also praised the attitude and commitment of both prospects in training and admitted they are improving even without game time.

But this month will be crucial to their advancement and the pair are poised for temporary transfers and Shaw looks to be on his way to Motherwell although St Johnstone have been mentioned in the race for his signature.

Urhoghide is likely to follow his former Hillsborough team-mate and friend with teams on both sides of the border monitoring his situation.

The versatile defender, who made his only competitive start alongside Shaw in the 3-2 Europa League Group G win over Real Betis in Glasgow last month, is determined to make the breakthrough with the Hoops – and revealed the intensity of life and the demands at Parkhead have come as a shock.

TRUE GRIT…Osaze Urhoghide powers his way past a Real Betis opponent in the 3-2 Europa League win.

Urhoghide said: “At a club like Celtic, second really isn’t good enough. It’s first or nothing, even in training.

“That’s one thing I’ve found different here, the demand to win. There’s expectation of success and that’s in training, too. When we’re playing games, you have to be 100 per cent every day.

“I used to think I was dedicated before, but the levels of dedication now have to be higher. If not, you won’t get where you want to be.

“It has to be your life. Everything has to revolve around being ready for training and games.

“Being here is a different kettle of fish. If you’re not mentally strong in football, you won’t last two minutes.”

Urhoghide, speaking in the Scottish Sun, added: “You need to perform in every game as the fans are on you. It doesn’t matter how you feel. The fans demand success and there’s always expectation. That’s the biggest change from Wednesday.

“At Celtic, a club with so much history of winning stuff, there is just that demand to win.

“I knew it before I signed, but now I’m here, you can see the pressure to win and perform.

“The top level is so much quicker. Football is hard and it has to be your life. There are no short-cuts, because one day they run out.

“I have big dreams to reach the heights. If you commit so much and fail, at least there are no ifs and buts at the end.”