Celtic winger seeks place in starting line-up
Celtic star Paddy McCourt is targeting a place in the starting line-up with the Scottish Premier League giants after making a return from injury.
The Northern Ireland winger has been mostly employed as an super-sub by manager Neil Lennon, after the boss claimed he was unsure whether McCourt's body could stand up to the rigours of a full game following an injury.
However, the 26-year-old claims that he has shaken off a string of injuries and is ready to show off his skills over 90 minutes for the Hoops.
He told reporters, "Lenny is great to work under. He has signed fantastic players and there is brilliant competition for places. That can only be healthy. It's a new team and we're still developing but I'm reasonably happy at the way we've started the season.
It has been quite a good start for me as well.
"Before I picked up an injury I had started a few games and scored a few goals. But since coming back I've largely been on the bench. In my first couple of years here I had niggling injuries. I had a back problem and that can affect other parts of the body
like the groin and hamstring. But I sorted it out, so hopefully there won't be a recurrence of the problem."
The attacker joined Celtic in 2008 from Derry City when Gordon Strachan was manager. In total, he has made just 31 appearances for the club he supported as a boy and has scored six goals, with his first coming against Falkirk in a League Cup match in September
2009.
McCourt made his international debut against Spain in 2002 and had to wait several years for his second cap, which came against San Marino in a qualifying match for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
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