JEREMIE Frimpong was delighted to be named as the club’s Young Player of the Year for 2019/20 yesterday, and thanked his team-mates, his manager and every Celtic supporter who voted for him after an unforgettable debut season.

The young defender burst on to the scene last September, during a 5-0 League Cup tie against Partick Thistle at Paradise, and quickly cemented his place in Neil Lennon’s matchday squad - partnering well with James Forrest on the right and using his pace and power to help out in attack as required.

He hasn't looked back since, and is over the moon to have contributed so much in his first season of a long-term deal.

“It feels amazing, it’s crazy,” said Frimpong in an interview with Celtic TV, clutching his newly-claimed Young Player of the Year award, sponsored by Scottish Centre for Excellence in Dentistry & PWR Pack Ltd.

“It’s my first year and to be winning a thing like this, it’s unreal. I have to thank my supporters and, obviously, my team-mates. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be holding this award. It’s amazing.

“I’m always competing against my team-mates, they’re unreal! They’re so good, so to be competing in this category against the likes of Odsonne, Mikey Johnston, Kris Ajer, all of these guys, it’s crazy. I’m so happy to be able to win this.”

Frimpong described his journey at Celtic to this point as ‘crazy’, and said he owes the award to the support of his colleagues, and his own hard work and determination. He also thanked Neil Lennon for giving him his chance, and for showing sustained faith in his ability.

Now, after months of at-home running-focused training routines, he wants nothing more than to get back on the training pitch and mix safely with his peers.

He added: “If a manager has trust in you, that’s all the motivation you need. If the manager has trust in you, then all you need to do is go out and play, do what you do, and if you’ve got good team-mates as well – everything if there that you need to succeed.

“It’s not even about the Young Player award, for me, this is about the team. We won the league as a team, so I’m really happy about that. To win the league in my first year… it’s unreal! I’m still so happy about it.

“I can’t wait to get back! All I want to do is touch a ball. I’ve been running, running, running. I just want to touch a ball with my team-mates, have some laughs and then focus on the season ahead.”

Frimpong: I'm delighted with my award but always want to improve