BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
CELTIC loan star Eoghan O’Connell admits the gruelling fixture schedule at Walsall has been a shock to the system – but is delighted his quest for first-team football has been successful.
The 21-year-old has been farmed out to the English League One side for the rest of the season and has earned rave reviews, with the playoff hopefuls conceding just two goals in the last five games O’Connell has started.
The promising stopper made seven appearances for Celtic earlier this season, including a Champions League cameo against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in September.
However, he soon slipped behind the likes of Jozo Simunovic, Erik Sviatchenko and Kolo Toure in the pecking order – and he is now loving life as a key man at the Bescot.
O’Connell, whose deal at Celtic expires in the summer, told the Express & Star: “I’m really enjoying it here and I have settled in really quickly. We’ve had a good run of results and I feel I’ve done all right performance-wise.
“It’s been good to have a run of games and there have been a couple of Tuesday night ones in there as well.
“My body is having to get used to a Saturday-Tuesday schedule but it’s just great to be playing games because that’s what I’m here to do.
“I’ve played every minute so far and if I can keep that run going I’ll be really happy.”
