caddis realistic as he aims to progress

GREGOR KYLE in Portugal
AS Paul Caddis has shown over the past week, versatility, as well as an obvious measure of ability, can sometimes be the key to unlocking a place in the Celtic first team.

Now in his second pre-season with Gordon Strachan’s squad, it would be fair to describe the 19-year-old right-back as one of the manager’s ‘pet projects’, a talent that has been carefully nurtured and protected over the course of the past season.

Signed in his early teens as a right-winger, Caddis has progressed through the Youth Academy as a match-winning full-back, a player capable of influencing the course of a game with his over-lapping runs, special delivery and the occasional goal.

This was more than evident last season when the Celtic manager gave him his debut against hometown club, Kilmarnock and Caddis responded with an assist and a Man-of-the-Match winning performance, and later went on to impress in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League against Barcelona.

But in the pre-season friendlies against Southampton and Middlesbrough, he has been a stand-out in a more advanced role on the right of the midfield and had a hand in last night’s 90th-minute equaliser against the English Premiership side.

As the former Celtic Under-19 captain explained, he is enjoying the pre-season experience but at the same time is realistic about his place in the manager’s squad.

"I've been brought to Portugal and was involved in the two closed-doors games we played prior to the public friendlies,” he commented.

“I got 20 minutes against Southampton, 20 minutes against Fulham and came on against Middlesbrough again last night as well. But if I had to say where I am right now, it's probably on the fringes.

"Every player wants to play every week and I am no different, but I'm only 20 and that's still young for a club such as Celtic. Right at this moment, I am happy to stay and keep fighting. There were a number of injuries last year and that could happen again.

“A lot can happen, so I feel I just have to wait," he continued. "Towards the end of last season, there were a few of us competing for the right-back berth. There was a game against Motherwell towards the end of December that got called off and I was supposed to be starting in that because of injuries to others.

"After that, Mark Wilson returned, Joe Doumbe came back and Andy Hinkel signed. I just have to prove to the gaffer that I can be his first-choice right-back and he has shown in the past that he is prepared to throw me in.

"The Barcelona game at Parkhead in the Champions League last season was the biggest example of that. Being involved in that kind of match certainly gave me confidence.

“If someone had said to me this time last year that I'd have started a Champions League last 16 match against Barcelona, I would never have believed them."

Looking back on his recent progress, Caddis credits the manager for investing his faith in him, with Gordon Strachan highlighting his performance in training as far back as January 2006, when Roy Keane joined the players for the first time at Barrowfield.

But the youngster also highlighted the work of two other members of Celtic’s backroom coaching staff, with reserve coaches and former players, Willie McStay and Danny McGrain offering an abundance of advice and encouragement.

"The first-team management are great but I've worked with Willie McStay since I came in full-time and there isn't a better mentor for me than Danny McGrain,” concluded Caddis.

“He's been really good for me. It also helps that he played for years as a full-back and was arguably the best right-back Celtic had. It is always good to be learning from one of the best."