Abada savours a dream debut season at Celts

FOR Liel Abada, a stunning first season in a Celtic jersey has seen the young Israel international score 15 goals and contribute 11 assists so far.

The 20-year-old’s fine form for the champions-elect saw him named Young Player of the Year by PFA Scotland on Sunday having earlier won the same prize at Celtic’s own in-house awards bash.

But the £3.5million signing from Maccabi Petah Tikva insists his eyeopening exploits on the park in the campaign of his dreams would not have been possible without the support he has received off it in Glasgow.

Swapping his native Israel for Scotland last summer at the tender age of 19, Abada, who only turned 20 in October, praised all those behind the scenes at Celtic for going that extra mile to help him settle into his new life.

Now he is aiming to repay them by helping Ange Postecoglou’s men over the line in the Premiership title race. Six points ahead of Rangers, with just three league games left, Celtic only need to better the result of the Ibrox side this weekend to be officially crowned champions.

But a home victory over Hearts at lunchtime on Saturday would effectively clinch the title even if Rangers beat Dundee United at Ibrox 24 hours later given the Parkhead club’s vastly superior goal difference. ‘It’s a great moment for me to be named Young Player of the Year,’ smiled Abada, speaking after picking up his award at Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel on Sunday.

‘Could I have imagined my first season at Celtic would go as well as this? Well, I just wanted to do the best I can for the team, for the fans, for everyone and for myself as well.

‘I would like to say thank you to everybody for their support. All the players and fans and coaches have given me the confidence to perform. I’m just really happy here at Celtic.

‘I have a lot of dreams in my career. First, we need to complete our goal. We want to win the league — that is what our focus is on right now.’

Abada also praised Postecoglou for taking a chance on him and giving him an opportunity to work in the former Australia boss’ favoured 4-3-3 system.

He said: ‘The manager has also been really very good for me since I’ve come to Celtic. He has also given me confidence.

‘I came here to Scotland and I am just young, I really want to improve and the manager has given me the platform to do that.

‘He has put his trust in me. Now I am focusing on doing my best for the team, for the fans, for everyone.’