Colby Donovan has played more minutes in pre-season than anyone at Celtic. But the youngster knows he might have a tougher task for more game time with Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston back on club duty after the World Cup.
Competition for Places
Donovan, 19, wouldn’t have it any other way as competing with the best in the right-back fight will only help his own progress. Ralston became a World Cup cap after coming off the bench against Morocco and Brazil, while Johnston put in superb displays for Canada as the Canucks blazed to the last 16 for the first time in their history. The former Montreal man’s displays didn’t go unnoticed and it’s left Celtic fans hoping they can hang on to the cult hero.
Donovan feels the same – despite the scrap for places as he bids to follow up his breakout year, having stepped in when Johnston and Ralston were crocked last season. Barnstorming displays in the Europa League against Red Star Belgrade and Feyenoord set the tone as Donovan proved he had the chops to make it at Parkhead. And he’s determined to kick on and turn up the heat on his rivals.
Learning from the Best
Donovan said: “There’s a lot of competition. Tony and Ali are tremendous servants for the club. Having those two in front of you is tough, but it’s also really good. They give me lots of tips and you watch their games, how they defend and how they go forward. It pushes you even more to get to that level. It makes you think, ‘I need to play well here’.”
“I watched Ali at the World Cup and he was probably the standout player for Canada. He was brilliant. He was probably man of the match in every game. You see him getting forward but he always manages to get back. He does so much for his country. It’s the same with us, he’s back now but he’s been working hard during his time off.”
Breakout Season
Donovan had to find his feet quickly last term after being thrown in at the deep end. He is determined to continue impressing boss Martin O’Neill and assistants Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham after they picked up the pieces from Wilfried Nancy and led the Hoops to a League and Scottish Cup Double. Donovan said: “Last season was mental. If someone said to me at the start I would make 30 or so appearances for Celtic, I would have bitten their hand off for it. It’s now about staying in the team and impressing the manager to hopefully keep it going.”
“It was a rollercoaster campaign. It was a blow not getting the Champions League but we bounced back. There was the change of manager and things weren’t really going our way at the beginning of December. But it was like a new team when Martin, Shaun and Fozzie came in. There was a tremendous spirit to win matches. That’s what champions do.”
European Ambitions
Donovan got a taste for the big time in the Europa League last year, starting in the draws in Belgrade and Bologna and in the away win against Feyenoord in Rotterdam. But it’s the top table that he’s determined to sample this time around. The clock is ticking towards a potentially treacherous qualifier at the end of August, with more new recruits needed and big names expected to depart. Hoops fans already have the fear with just striker Camilo Duran coming in so far and voted with their feet at the weekend, with barely 13,000 – including 5,000 away fans – turning up for the bounce game with Middlesbrough.
Celtic Park was a morgue but Donovan is hoping it will be a different feeling if the side can reach the promised land this year. The teenager grew up a Hoops fan and relished the big European nights in the stands and he’d love to experience it on the pitch. He said: “The Champions League is a big dream for all of us, not just me. It’s huge for this club. We feel we are a Champions League club and we want to be in there every year. We want to make sure we are up to speed for that qualifier because we are desperate to go through.”
“I used to sit in the stands for the Champions League games. I remember the Man City 3-3 game a few years ago, Real Madrid coming, the Leipzig games. That has always been the big thing about Celtic – being a Champions League team and having these nights where the stadium is bouncing. Getting that again is the big target in the next few weeks.”
Pre-Season Progress
Donovan played 80-odd minutes in the 1-1 draw with Boro and the international contingent will be back on board for their final friendly against AC Milan in Glasgow this coming weekend. Supporters might be sweating but the defender is convinced it will all come good when it counts. He said: “It’s about getting as many minutes as possible and trying to go into the season flying. I’m feeling good and most of the boys are up to speed now.”
