Callum Lang was intrigued by the prospect of Scottish football – and the Motherwell man hasn’t been disappointed ahead of today’s game with Celtic.
The Steelmen head into the match in good form, having won 12 points from the last available 18. They come up against a Celtic side who are under pressure to perform, the Hoops winning one of their last six.
Motherwell face Celtic this afternoon. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Since arriving in Lanarkshire, Lang has bounced back from a debut red card with four goals in 11 games following the dismissal. He says it has been a great challenge for him so far but is aware Sunday’s encounter will be ‘tough.’
“I was excited to come here, I had heard all about it,” said Lang. “My dad had come here and watched a few games last season and he was impressed with the standard. He is someone who I listen to.
“My agent and my dad, they are the ones I listen to, they have helped me out massively. It’s been a good test for me so far. It’s quite different from England. You have to be 100% concentrated.
Enjoying his spell. (Photo by Ross Parker/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“We are in for a tough game. These are lads that are playing European football and rightly so. You have got to try and prove yourself as it makes you look better if you are performing against better players.”
One player Lang could face today is Celtic centre-back Shane Duffy. The Irishman has come under fire after his big-name arrival in Scotland from Brighton but the Motherwell striker has hit back at those who have criticised him.
The Wigan loanee says it’s a great chance for him to battle with an established defender: “I’ve never played against Shane Duffy but he’s had a fantastic career. It’s going to be good to test myself against a player like that. We’ll see how it goes but we are excited.
Excited to face Duffy. (Photo by Craig Foy/SNS Group via Getty Images)
“Everyone knows how good he is. It’s one of them as a footballer, everyone has a little spell where they aren’t performing. If he isn’t playing as well as people though he would be, that’s just the life of a footballer.
“Everyone has these spells, I don’t know a footballer who hasn’t. But to be honest I haven’t really been watching the Celtic games, I am concentrating on Motherwell.”