‘We focus on our own performances – we don’t look at Rangers’ insists Loovens

GLENN Loovens insists the Celtic players will ignore what is happening at Rangers to concentrate solely on keeping the pressure on their Old Firm rivals at the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

The Parkhead club were at one stage 15 points behind Rangers. albeit with two games in hand. But with the leaders stuttering and Celtic recovering their form by winning their last five league games, that gap has been reduced to four points, making the next derby at Parkhead on 28 December all the more intriguing.

However, Loovens, 28, claims Celtic are simply looking to keep their good form going.

“I think that’s football for you,” the Dutchman told Celtic View. “We don’t try to look too much to them. We just focus on our own performances as we can’t affect what they are doing. I think we need to look at ourselves and make sure we win every game and try to put pressure on them. You are always happy if they drop points, but we can’t affect what they’re doing so we are better concentrating on our own performances, making sure we keep winning and putting the pressure on them.”

The former Cardiff defender has played in the last three games after recovering from a hamstring complaint and is glad to be away from a treatment room that has all too often been overcrowded this season.

Emilio Izaguirre, Scott Brown, Kelvin Wilson, Mark Wilson, Kris Commons, Charlie Mulgrew, Mo Bangura, Joe Ledley and Thomas Rogne have all been out for various lengths of time to the frustration of manager Neil Lennon and the Celtic fans. “It’s horrible to be injured,” said Loovens. “You usually have long, lonely hours, but not this time as we have had that many injuries – at one time we ran out of beds. There is nothing better than to be out there on the pitch and doing the things you love to do.

“And I think if you are injured you train harder than when you are fit, as you have to be in early and go home late. You have your own gym sessions to do, your stuff outside, your pool sessions – it’s just really boring.

“But it’s important to do all the right things as well to make sure you come back stronger. I just want to keep doing well and keep my place in the team and stay fit.

“And it’s good to see more or less most of our players back. That’s a good thing because a lot of the boys who were injured will be fresh and ready to go again.”

l New Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill has again linked up with his former Celtic and Aston Villa fitness coach Jim Henry, who has been Hibernian’s head of performance for the past year.

O’Neill was appointed as successor to Steve Bruce at the Barclays Premier League club at the weekend. A Hibs statement read: “Hibernian can confirm head of performance Jim Henry has left the club to join Martin O’Neill’s new backroom team at Sunderland with immediate effect.

“Formerly with Celtic and Aston Villa (working with O’Neill on both occasions), Henry joined Hibernian 13 months ago. The club would like to thank Jim for his contribution over the past year and wish him all the best for the future.”