THIS IS MY TYNE
O’Riley ready to replace Celtic crocks and make his mark in ‘hostile’ Gorgie
MATT O’RILEY insists he’s ready to fire straight into hostilities at Tynecastle.
The Celtic new boy is primed for a debut in their Premiership showdown with Hearts tonight.
O’Riley’s move to Parkhead from MK Dons was concluded less than a week ago.
However, with Tom Rogic on international duty and Callum McGregor, David Turnbull as well as Yosuke Ideguchi crocked, the 21-year-old midfielder may be thrust into the Gorgie cauldron by Ange Postecoglou.
O’Riley is fully prepared with his last outing of 30 this season coming just 11 days ago in a win over Portsmouth in England’s cut-throat League One.
He said: “First day in, I really felt at home, so from that sense it’s really good and I feel good. Let’s see what happens.
“I feel ready to go, which is the main thing.
“I have played enough games to feel in good physical shape and hopefully I get the chance.
“Portsmouth away was a tough game as well, so I feel physically sharp.
“Playing 30 games is quite a lot, so my body is ready for the amount coming up because we have a lot in the next period and we are going to need everybody to be at it.”
Celtic trips to Tynecastle can produce frenetic encounters and O’Riley added: “I have been told that already.
“I’ve been told to be ready for a hostile atmosphere as well.
“But that’s what I’m here for – to experience something new and hopefully I can really make the most of it.
“It’s important to be adaptable to any kind of game you play and, while on the whole I wouldn’t say I’m hectic in the way I play, I am going to have to adapt to it.
“We can try to stamp our style in the game to try to make it less hectic and manic.
“But I have to be ready for whatever comes my way.”
O’Riley reckons he will be comfortable in whatever role he may be handed by gaffer Postecoglou due to a flexibility within his skill set.
Rogic’s absence opens up a playmaker slot, yet the injuries to McGregor, Turnbull and Ideguchi mean deeper slots are also up for grabs.
O’Riley said: “I can do all of them but I most enjoy the No.8 role because it involves a bit of everything.
“Listen, if I am needed in the No.6 role a bit deeper, then I have the tools to do that as well.
“And that’s always handy to have because it gives me more options and gives the manager more options as well.
“It’s a strength but if I’m going to the one I enjoy most, then it’s probably being an eight, box-tobox type of player.
“I like to get around the pitch and I’m happy to help out in both boxes.” O’Riley feels for his sidelined team-mates and said: “Injuries come unfortunately and, while I certainly don’t want any Celtic players to be injured, it does happen.
“When it does, someone like myself has to be ready. We will see what happens.
“If I am called upon I will do my best.”
O’Riley may be new to the scene in Glasgow but he does have some grounding on the environment thanks to his former MK Dons manager.
Ex-Rangers defender Russell
Martin was his gaffer and had an interest in taking him to his new club Swansea before Celtic came calling.
O’Riley said: “Russell was a big influence on me and I still have a really good relationship with him.
“He wished me all the best in coming here to Parkhead and told me it would be a great move for me.
“From the time I spent working with him we developed a good relationship and he helped me a lot because he
understood me, both as a player and as a person, which always is a positive.
“Russell is definitely a big figure in my early career as well and he also spoke to me briefly about his time in Glasgow, highlighting the magnitude of the rivalry between the two clubs.
“But he also told me he enjoyed his time here and spoke in glowing terms of the size of the clubs.
“Celtic being Celtic, it wasn’t very hard to make the decision from my side. There is a massive fan base and I felt really good about my decision from the get-go.
“Of course, I had other interest elsewhere but in terms of the options, it definitely felt like the best by quite some way.”
Postecoglou is adamant he is signing people as well as players and O’Riley buys into that theory.
The youngster added: “It has to be, in terms of what I bring to other team-mates as well.
“If I’m not a decent enough bloke, I am probably not going to be nice to work around.
“That’s massive in terms of developing a good culture around the club.
“My previous clubs have been big on that and the gaffer here is big on it.
“In that sense, I think I will fit in in terms of the character I am. Hopefully, anyway.”