On-loan Hibs youngster Towell targets strike past his best pal in Bohemians goal

Goalkeeper Sexton is Towell's best pal in football, the pair having gone to school together in Dublin as well as being team-mates for years, and the 19-year-old would love nothing more than to see his mate pick one of his shots out of the net.

The on-loan Celtic youngster actually scored against Bohs when Neil Lennon's side won a friendly 4-1 in Ireland last October, his only regret being that Sexton wasn't between the sticks.

He said: "Craig actually came on a few minutes after I'd scored, which was a pity as I would have loved to have put one past him. The two of us have been good pals all our lives, we went to school together and we played in the same team from under-sevens to 12s when we went to different clubs, but we are still good friends.

"Maybe I should give Pat Fenlon a wee ring and ask him to make sure Craig is playing.

"I actually know quite a few of the boys who play for Bohemians either from school or having played with or against them so I am sure there will be a fair bit of banter flying about, although I want to be the one giving them a bit of stick."

While many of his pals from school opted to stay in Ireland and continue their education rather than "go across the water", Towell, desperate just to play football, jumped at the opportunity to sign for Celtic despite attracting the attention of many clubs as a teenager.

He said: "Before I signed for Celtic, I trained with something like 12 or 14 clubs. I had a few offers other than Celtic but when they made their move it was a no-brainer. It's such a big club."

Although his long-term loyalties obviously lie in the east end of Glasgow, the Irish Under-21 star admitted he'll find it hard to tear himself away from Hibs when his loan spell expires at the end of the season.

He said: "Obviously I am something of an outsider because I am a Celtic player but everyone has been brilliant with me. I've only been here a few weeks but I already feel like part of the family and when the day comes for me to leave, it will be hard to do so.

"There had been a few clubs looking to take me on loan but Neil Lennon felt Hibs would be the right move for me and it has proved to be that way. I arrived on the Tuesday, trained with the boys and the next night I was playing against Rangers.

"It's been brilliant for me, an experience I would never have had if I stayed at Celtic."I've thoroughly enjoyed myself."

Towell has certainly had an experience he'll never have as a Celtic player, being part of a side which only a few weeks ago was battling to haul itself away from the threat of becoming embroiled in a relegation battle. His arrival at Easter Road, along with the likes of Victor Palsson, Matt Thornhill, Martin Scott and Akpo Sodje, has coincided with an upturn in fortunes which has seen Colin Calderwood's side put a six-match unbeaten run together.

The youngster, though, insisted he never saw Hibs in trouble, saying: "I don't think it looked as if we were scrapping. We've been playing good football and it's not as if we've been losing, losing, losing.

"We've won five and drawn one which, I think, shows we are gelling well together. Training with the gaffer has been brilliant and it has all paid off."

Towell believes part of the secret behind Hibs' rejuvenation lies in the youth of Calderwood's side, pointing out that, like himself, Callum Booth and Victor Palsson are only 19, while David Wotherspoon and Danny Galbraith are 20 and Paul Hanlon just 21.

Hanlon, Booth and Wotherspoon will all miss tonight's match having departed with Scotland's Under-21 squad to play Belgium on Thursday, while Palsson will be leaving to join Iceland's Under-21s for games against Ukraine and England. Towell himself will be heading for Portugal with the Republic of Ireland's youngsters on Wednesday morning.

A measure, indeed, of the quality of Hibs youth, leading Towell to say: "A lot of my friends have been saying how young the team is but I think the fact we are full of energy and enthusiasm has us playing well.

"Hibs have always had a great reputation for bringing through young players. You look at Scott Brown as captain at Celtic, Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker who went to Rangers, and Steven Fletcher playing in the English Premier League.

"There's a lot of good players in the academy. You tend to talk about them as being the youngsters and then realise they aren't much younger than yourself. When I've played for Celtic against Hibs I always knew we'd be in for a tough game, whatever age group I was playing in.

"The facilities at East Mains show Hibs really mean business and I think that's showing with the players coming through."

Such have been Towell's performances, some have even suggested he could soon step up to Giovanni Trapattoni's full Ireland squad, a thought which brings a quiet smile to his face although he's equally quick to dismiss any notion of rapid promotion.

He said: "Like any small boy playing football, my dream is to play for my country. I've played since I was 14 for the national team at the various age levels and hopefully one day I'll realise that dream.

"It's been mentioned in the papers back home but I am not getting my feet off the ground. I'm still a young player and whether it's for the 21s, Hibs or Celtic I'll do what I always do and give 100 per cent. It's nice for people to be saying such things but I am sure if there was any sign of me getting big-headed my dad and family would soon put me back in my place."

One day, maybe, but for the moment Towell only has tonight's match in mind, well aware of its importance at a time when Hibs have been left without a competitive match for a month through circumstances outwith their control.

He said: "When I played against Bohemians last October they didn't have their full team out as they'd played a league match the day before, but even so they were a good side and I am sure they'll give us a game.

"They will be difficult, their players will be fresh because their season has just started and they will be looking to challenge for the title once again. For us, we are looking for a good work-out and to win. Even though it is only a friendly, we are on a good run and we want to keep that going."

Admission to tonight's game - only the East and West Stands will be open - is by cash at the gate, prices 10 and 5 (concessions).