New bhoy Beram plays down plaudits after brilliant debut

Beram Kayal became an instant fans' favourite after a brilliant Celtic debut but insists it has never been his aim to stand out from the crowd.

The Israeli midfielder, signed in the summer from Maccabi Haifa, was Celtic's most influential performer in Thursday's 2-0 Europa League home win over Utrecht, meaning the Parkhead faithful took an instant liking to him.

He is poised to make his Clydesdale Bank Premier League debut for Celtic against St Mirren tomorrow, but, while the plaudits are already coming Kayal's way, he is keen to avoid them for now.

He said: "I'm very happy, but the only reason is because we won the game against Utrecht. I like to work for the team.

"I feel really good here and the crowd were good towards me. I got an assist for one of the goals, but that's not important, it's about working for the team.

"The supporters weren't just cheering me, they were supporting everyone. We are only eleven, but they are the 12th man.

"I want to be successful, of course, but the work I do is for the team and for the result. It doesn't matter that I play well, just that we win."

Kayal may be reluctant to take the acclaim, but his manager, Neil Lennon, was only too keen to applaud what he claimed was one of the best Celtic debuts he has ever clapped eyes on.

Lennon has a number of options in midfield after his summer recruitment drive, but Kayal, much more than just the holding midfielder he was portrayed on arrival, could yet emerge as one of the first names on his team-sheet.

Lennon said: "Beram started the game very well. His tackling, his decisiveness, his quality on the ball and ability to get it to the strikers' feet quickly and to try and take control of the game for us.

"We knew he had that in his game, it was whether he could replicate that in a match situation, but under pressure he showed all of those qualities."

Meanwhile, new Saints boss Danny Lennon insists he will not feel intimidated by Sunday`s visit to Parkhead.

"It's certainly the most high-profile game so far," he said. "But the challenge of the back-to-back promotions and the play-offs (with Cowdenbeath] were big games.

"We will certainly enjoy the occasion, it's a wonderful arena, and there's not going to be any pressure.

"Take away that wonderful arena and it's just a lovely grass football pitch with two sets of goals and two sets of players, the same as any other week."