Du Wei set to stay after impressing manager
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-12-25 19:47

Du Wei himself feels he is ready to make his mark on Scottish football.

He said: "I'm ready now to play for the first team at any time. I believe I can be a success in Scottish football and I have enjoyed my time at Celtic so far.

"I like the club and I'm not thinking about moving anywhere else.

"Hopefully I will get the chance to show Gordon Strachan what I can do before January 15 and stay in Glasgow."

In the Boxing Day SPL clash between Celtic and Livingston in Glasgow Du Wei is again likely to be on the substitute's bench as Balde and Stephen McManus take up the two central defensive positions.

Bulgarian captain Stilian Petrov is also likely to be in the starting 11 after recovering from a twisted ankle picked up during the 1-1 draw away to Inverness Caley.

Paul Lambert makes his first return to Celtic Park as manager of Livingston and though he is looking forward to the occasion he admits his players will have to be at their best to take anything from the game.

He said: "It will be nice to go back and see people I had a lot of good times with, but we will have to work hard to get anything from the match.

"Celtic are a top side and are at the top of the league on merit. We will have to make sure we take any chances we get and defend as if our lives depended on it - that is the only way to play these kind of games and I make no apology for it."