BESIDES changing his look with a shaven head during lockdown, Hoops striker Patryck Klimala returned to Lennoxtown last month with added muscle – a result of rigorous at-home gym work.

Now, the 21-year-old has admitted he did so partly to help him compete with some of Celtic’s more physical players on the training pitch. Speaking to Celtic TV in France, where Neil Lennon’s men will compete in the Veolia Trophy pre-season tournament from tomorrow (Thursday) against Nice, Klimala said: “Firstly, I have to say I feel good. I actually feel better than I did before lockdown.

“I worked hard during quarantine and so hopefully I am ready. Now, we’re in Lyon and tomorrow we have our first friendly game. We’ll see how it goes.

“It was a simple decision for me to go to the gym during lockdown. When I was on the pitch with, say, Chris Jullien, for example, it was really hard. I didn’t have any chance – that’s why I wanted to bulk up and I think that it’s better for me. I feel better and hopefully the guys think the same.”

Kilmala said he expected the first six months of his time at Paradise to be challenging, something which was made even harder by the global pandemic. Training at home away from his team-mates was the biggest challenge of all, said the forward, but he now wants to continue working hard and, hopefully, force his way into the manager’s plans this season.

He added: “I feel comfortable now. I know what Odsonne did last season, but I will work hard and hopefully I’m given a chance to show some more. I spoke to John Kennedy and I know what I have to do, why I’m here, and we will see.

“We are Celtic. We have to, and can, win every game. It’s only a friendly tomorrow, but we have to prove to ourselves and the manager who is the best moving forward into the new season.

“I can tell you, I understand all of the guys, but learning English can be difficult. It’s a difficult situation, but I want to learn English because I respect my team-mates, the manager, the fans. I can speak with everyone now, and I’m still learning every day. I feel good with the language now, but hopefully I can keep getting better.”

Klimala: Weight training has helped me compete with team-mates