Sead Haksabanovic can’t wait for his first taste of the Tony Macaroni Arena - even though it comes sandwiched in between glamour Champions League clashes with Shakhtar Donetsk and Real Madrid.
The summer signing has been filled in on what to expect from Livingston and their artificial pitch which has historically been a bogey ground for the Hoops. Celtic ended a five-game winless run in West Lothian with a 3-1 victory on their last visit back in March.
Haksabanovic is relishing another new challenge having impressed again in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Shakhtar. And he says Ange Postecoglou’s side will treat Livi just like a Champions League encounter as they look to maintain their cushion at the top of the table. He said: “Yes, it is my first visit. My team mates have told me a little about it. And they said it is tough playing there. But, you know, every game is tough in this league and in the Champions League so it is like they say: ‘no easy games’.
“We just have to score more goals than them. As a football player you want to play games more than you want to train. It is tough for us but we know we have a good squad, and we have a lot of players. We just have to make sure that we bring what we do in the Champions League to the league.”
Haksabanovic arrived in a £1.75m deal from Rubin Kazan in August and has already made 12 appearances but admits he’s yet to hit top gear in Glasgow. The Montenegro international revealed he’s been doing extra sessions with Hoops coach and former Liverpool and Leeds forward Harry Kewell in a bid to get up to speed.
And he insists playing alongside Giorgos Giakoumakis and Kyogo Furuhashi - who started in a two-pronged attack against Shakhtar - will also help him reach a new level.
The former West Ham wide man said: “I love playing with them. They are both good players. The whole squad are good players.I am still new and I am still trying to learn how everyone plays. But I am enjoying myself.
“Hopefully soon I can get in 100 per cent with the team and how they play and how we play. I mean in terms of being new here. I am learning all about the players and everyone and how we play.
“The manager is very clear in what he wants from me. And I know I have his support otherwise I wouldn’t be here. I have been doing some extra work with Harry as well. They are all there for me and I am just very happy about that.
“I like it here. I am enjoying myself. I like the league. I think it is a good league with a good level.”
Celtic are four points clear of Rangers at the Premiership summit with four games to go until the World Cup break. And Haksabanovic insists the target is to ensure the gap doesn’t narrow over the course of the next three weeks.
Last week required Postecoglou’s men to dig deep for three points in a seven-goal thriller at Hearts. And he said: “That is good I think. That demands the best of us. If we want to beat the best we can beat the best and we can show again that we can turn around a game and win if we have to.
“We will take it one game at a time. And we will focus on that. We are Celtic and we want to win all of the games.”
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