The Celtic player made his Bhoys league debut last weekend and is looking forward to the challenges ahead.
Celtic have been relatively quiet in terms of transfers this summer – a benefit of finishing last season undefeated in the Scottish Premiership and collecting all three domestic trophies – but one of their few new faces has been speaking to reporters after making his league debut for his new club.
Jonny Hayes signed for Celtic from Aberdeen earlier this summer and his latest comments have been published on the Bhoys’ official Twitter account.
“I could have taken the easy option and moved down to England,” the 30-year-old said. “I knew it would be a bigger task here to get into an invincible team.
“Individually it’s a bigger task to break into the team but I know I’ve still got a long way to go.”
Hayes featured four times for Celtic as they reached the Champions League play-off round, but Saturday’s match against Hearts was his first taste of domestic action in his new club’s colours.
He managed 23 minutes off the bench and fully understands the challenge ahead to become a regular starter for Brendan Rodgers’ side.
Considering his age, it would have been a far easier move to join a club where he was guaranteed to start week in, week out, and it is admirable that he has not done that.
Celtic need a strong squad as they bid to reach the group stage of the Champions League and make a real go of it from there.
The prospect of turning out against some of the continent’s biggest clubs is reason enough for Hayes to move to a club that wants to kick on even more after one of the greatest campaigns in their history.
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