Celtic midfielder James McCarthy insists he is edging closer to full fitness following his debut against Hearts.
McCarthy came on as a substitute in the 3-2 win against the Jambos in the Premier Sports Cup.
Following his move from English Premier League side Crystal Palace, the midfielder believes he is moving closer towards full fitness and could be in line to make his full debut in the coming matches.
The Hoops eased past their Edinburgh opposition and now face a quarter-final at home to Raith Rovers with Odsonne Edouard, Stephen Welsh and Kyogo Furuhashi all on the scoresheet.
McCarthy believes he is not far away as he catches up to his team-mates on the training ground – and he could play a part in the upcoming battles with AZ Alkmaar for Europa League qualification.
Speaking to the Celtic website, McCarthy said: "The most important thing was getting through to the next round of the cup, and we’ve done that.
"Obviously, it was nice to get some minutes for myself, with me not doing pre-season with all of the lads, so I’m still doing a wee bit of catch-up, but I'm getting there now.
“I’m definitely not far away and, as I said, the most important thing now is that we are through to the next round of the cup and we are looking forward to the next challenge during the week.”
The Hoops face the Dutch side in the first leg on Wednesday evening, and like Ange Postecoglou's men they made it to the group stages last campaign.
Reflecting on his summer move, McCarthy reiterated his joy at signing for Celtic and added: "It’s a dream come true. I’ve said that from when I joined the club, it’s been a massive thing for me and the family.
“I’ve always wanted to play for Celtic, and coming out, and the reception I got, it’s one you dream of as a kid, and I’m delighted to be a part of it now, as I need to make sure the hard work continues now.”
McCarthy believes that manager Ange Postecoglou is working wonders at Parkhead and that the early signs look positive for the Celtic manager.
"He’s been brilliant since I've come in," he said. "All the coaches and all the boys, they’ve really helped me settle in and I’m looking forward to it now.”
