Brendan Rodgers told Johnny Kenny to remain calm in knowing he was getting his opportunity before scoring his first Celtic goal on Wednesday.
The Irish striker was given the nod for his side away to Aberdeen, and found himself on the scoresheet in the 5-1 victory with a fine close-range header.
"It was brilliant," Kenny told Sky Sports post-match.
"As a young lad, you dream of playing for this club and scoring. Once the cross was coming across, I just wanted to get on the end of it.
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"The gaffer told me last week that I was going to play, and just to 'Be calm, you've got your opportunity'.
"I've been here since January and watching Ads [Adam Idah] and Daizen [Maeda], and just learning off them, and being calm and trying to replicate what they do every week.
"It's great to play alongside these guys."
Kenny joined Celtic as a teenager from Sligo Rovers in 2022. He has since enjoyed loan spells at Queen's Park and Shamrock Rovers.
He particularly caught the eye with the latter and has been champing at the bit for a considerable opportunity at Celtic since returning from his loan in January.
Rodgers was pleased with the 21-year-old's impact midweek: "He's come in and obviously been limited in his opportunities, but it's not stopped him," said the manager.
"He's worked so hard every day and it was just about timing, really. It was about giving him the opportunity.
"He took it with a fantastic goal. His movement was really good, so that gave him huge confidence.
"I like him as a player. He obviously came into Celtic earlier, went away, got some experience. He's grown over the few months we've had him from January. He's got stronger. His movement's really good.
"He's a natural goal scorer. From 25 yards in, he can get the goal like he did tonight, left foot, right foot. I'm so pleased for him. A young guy from Ireland, playing for Celtic and then scoring your first goal at Pittodrie. It was amazing for him."
