IMPRESSIVE teenage debutant Scott Robertson drew praise from boss Neil Lennon after taking his Celtic first-team bow in the 2-0 loss to Cluj in Romania last night.
The result of the final Europa League Group E game was largely meaningless with the Hoops already winners of the section and seeded in Monday’s midday draw.
Lennon took the opportunity to introduce the central midfielder and was quick to applaud his efforts at the end of the match.
However, Robertson had some praise of his own to hand out and he delivered it to his engine-room partner Olivier Ntcham, who was captaining the team in the absence of banned Scott Brown.
The youngster, speaking to the Scottish Sun, admitted: “Olivier was brilliant. He was talking to me throughout the game and he was relaxing me.
“He said to me before the game to just do my stuff and that stood me in good stead for the rest of the game.”
Robertson, who has been at Parkhead for 10 years, is adamant he is no overnight sensation at the champions.
He said: “I don’t really think I’m ahead of schedule. I always hoped I’d be playing in the first team at an early age.
“I’m 18, it’s not really young. You see boys in England getting their debut and playing in Europe so it was good for me to do that.”
Robertson added: “It was brilliant. It’s good to eventually get out there.
“I found out I was playing around lunchtime on Wednesday and I was really excited. The team got put up on the projector and I saw my name. I was a bit taken aback, I wasn’t expecting it.
“I told my parents about three o’clock that day — I texted my dad and they were buzzing for me.
“I didn’t have a sleepless night, I was actually alright. It was more excitement than nerves, to be honest.
“It was in my plans to get an early touch and a few early passes off to grow into the game.
“I say to everyone, it’s the intensity that’s the difference when you play with the first team or even train with them.
“It’s so much higher than what you get when you are playing against younger people when you are playing against men.”
Lennon will revert to his tried and trusted key players when Hibs visit on Premiership business on Sunday, but Hoops fans are convinced this will not be their last glimpse of Robertson this season.
