HATEM Abd Elhamed has enjoyed an impressive start to his Celtic career, with the Israeli internationalist slotting seamlessly into the back four and contributing to the team’s impressive start to the season.

The player himself is enjoying life at Paradise and is looking forward to the next challenge on the horizon – the visit of Partick Thistle to Celtic Park for the quarter-final of the Betfred League Cup tomorrow night (Wednesday).

Neil Lennon’s side go into the game full of confidence after recording their sixth straight win in the Premiership, and face a Thistle side currently bottom of the Championship and having changed their manager this week, with the appointment of Ian McCall.

But Elhamed knows that, in a cup-tie, it’s important to remain focused regardless of any ‘favourite’ tag that might be attached to Celtic.

“We need to respect every opponent and play our way,” he said. “We are in a good moment and we need to keep this going and we look forward to the game tomorrow.

“I played with the champions of Israel before I came here, and there we needed to win every game and we wanted to win every competition. So I came to Celtic ready and at the right age.

“I’m so happy with everything so far. I’m happy with my performances and how the club has welcomed me.

“Physically here, it’s much more higher than what I’m used to. My physical level is high so I adapted quickly to this. The challenges are tough and strong, but I’m a player who likes this. I like challenges to be strong and it gives me motivation to play.”

Celtic emerged from the recent transfer window in a much stronger position, with a number of new players joining the club. It has meant there is competition for places in Neil Lennon’s squad, something that Elhamed is aware of, having to take his place on the bench for Sunday’s victory over Kilmarnock as Moritz Bauer started at right-back.

The challenge of securing a place in the starting XI is something that the Israeli defender relishes, and he believes it can only improve him and his team-mates.

“At big clubs you always have competition,” he said. “You should have two or three good players in each position. It’s fine and competition is something positive. It makes you better.

“We have a lot of quality players, with a strong mentality from all of them. I think in the last game you can see the good connection between us. We speak a lot during the games to each other.

“We are getting to know each other better every game, we are trying our best and in the last couple of games we have been doing well.”

Elhamed: We want to keep our good run going with League Cup win