Celts were my idols – but I’d love to pile on agony
A TRIP down Paradise way is also a trip down memory lane for Jim O’Brien.
The Ross County midfielder grew up idolising Celtic and became a season ticket-holder as his own playing talents took him through his boyhood club’s youth teams then off to other corners of the country.
Having left second club Motherwell in 2010, O’Brien hopes to set foot on the Celtic Park turf for the first time in seven years after stints with Barnsley, Coventry, Scunthorpe United and Shrewsbury Town.
Today’s visit will be charged with nostalgia but the 29-yearold is hellbent on inflicting fresh agony on the team he’s supported for as long as he can remember.
Now recovered from a hamstring problem that kept him out against Partick Thistle last week, O’Brien said: “There’s a buzz for me going back to Celtic Park.
“I was there for the final game last season against Hearts and so much has changed. It’s not the Celtic Park I knew, even though it is the same stadium.
“But there’s a real tingle of excitement driving up to the stadium and playing in front of 60,000. All of my mates will be there as well, supporting Celtic.
“It’s a good day and one where you want to test yourselves against the best players in the country.”
O’Brien watched Celtic’s crushing defeat by PSG on Tuesday night on TV.
And he added: “Hopefully Celtic will be a little bit tired but we know they will be hurting and will send out a strong team.
“On Tuesday, I told my mates, ‘That’s how it feels for everyone else in Scotland.’ Celtic now know how it feels for the rest of us!
“But we’re looking forward to the game. The bookies and everyone else will expect a poor day for us but we want to show how well we can play against Celtic.”