Paddy McCourt was delighted to make his Celtic debut this week in their friendly against Manchester City.

"It was a massive thrill to make my debut," he said "I was told by Garry Pendrey, Celtic assistant manager at half-time that I would be getting on around the hour mark so I was looking at the clock watching every minute go by.

"It was almost a dream debut when I had that volley at the back post. I was caught in two minds about whether to head it or volley it and by the time I made my mind up the chance was gone. Just to get on was brilliant but to have marked it with a goal would have been a dream."

McCourt suffered a hamstring strain in his first week at Celtic and added: "At the minute I'm a bit behind but I'm looking forward to getting in with the lads. It's going to take me five or six weeks to get up to where I feel I should be. Even when I came in I was a bit behind as they're a very fit bunch of lads. If I have to do a bit extra after then that's no problem. I can't put a time limit on it. I'm just working with Gregory Dupont, Celtic's sports scientist after training. You'll know yourself when you're ready."