LIKE the rest of his Celtic team-mates, Patryk Klimala, is delighted to be back training at Lennoxtown, and the striker is enjoying his first pre-season with the Hoops.

The Polish striker joined Celtic in January this year from Jagiellonia BiaÅ‚ystok, and made four appearances for the club before the football season was postponed.

The 21-year-old opted to remain in Glasgow with his fiancée rather than return home to Poland, and like the rest of Neil Lennon’s squad, worked on training programmes supplied by the sports science team.

Now, however, he’s working hard at Lennoxtown and looking forward to what will be a momentous season ahead for the Hoops.

“At the beginning when I signed, I was tired because I didn’t have a pre-season,” Klimala told the official Celtic website. “I had only two training sessions before joining Celtic so it was hard, but I made up for it over the lockdown and now I’m ready.

The staff gave me individual programmes which I followed. I made up for everything I missed, so hopefully everything will be good.

“I didn’t get to properly know everyone when I first signed, because I only had a month or so with the team before lockdown. I’m starting to get to know the team better now and I feel really happy and more settled.

“My fiancée and I really like Glasgow and now hopefully I can start playing regularly for the team.”

Neil Lennon’s side will go into the 2020/21 season as champions, having secured their ninth title in a row, and the target will be to create history by winning the Premiership for a tenth consecutive season.

There will be tough challenges ahead but Klimala is looking forward to the resumption of competitive football and is ready to play his part in the campaign.

“Celtic is a huge club and the fans are amazing,” he said. “To be the champions nine seasons in a row is a massive achievement and hopefully I’ll help us win the tenth.

“When I came here, I knew it would be a hard six months for me, and it was. My aim next season is to play and score goals, but the priority is help the team win ten-in-a-row.

“When I was in Poland I always wanted to play European football. It’s always been my ambition and this is what I’ve always wanted. Now hopefully I can show my quality and hopefully this season we qualify to the Champions League.

“Neil Lennon welcomed me really well. I didn’t know what to expect because I had never moved club in Poland. The manager believes in me and hopefully I can repay his faith.”

Patryk Klimala: I'm ready to play my part in exciting season ahead