DEREK RIORDAN is adamant the toughest preseason he has encountered will leave Celtic in prime condition and dismissed claims they will be exhausted for their opening Bank of Scotland Premierleague match.
Kilmarnock visit Parkhead a week on Saturday with Michael Johnston, the Rugby Park chairman, claiming the champions' hectic schedule of friendlies will present his club with an excellent chance of their first win at the stadium for 51 years.
That is a notion Riordan firmly rejects ahead of the close of the US tour against New England Revolution in Foxboro, Massachussets, this evening.
"We'll be ready, " said the 23year-old striker. "We just have to pick it up a bit by getting a few victories and scoring some goals. It comes down to what happens on the pitch, that's the main thing. The camp is fine and everyone is happy.
"It just takes time for new players to settle in and for everyone to get to know each other's strengths. It's probably been the hardest pre-season I've known, the heat makes it difficult, but I've enjoyed it."
Celtic have yet to record a win, or, indeed, score a goal, as they approach their fifth warmup match. Riordan admitted he is facing his own process of adjustment to capture the effectiveness regularly displayed with Hibernian.
"I think Celtic play in a different way to Hibs, who are more attacking and quick going forward, " said Riordan, whose pre-contact agreement was expedited when Celtic paid the Easter Road club GBP150,000 last month.
"There is more build-up play here with people getting down the wings to get crosses in. The attacking style probably suits me better . . . obviously, I'm not built for heading the ball. I know I need to get used to the different type of play and these friendlies are there to get you ready for the SPL."
Gordon Strachan, meanwhile, believes the travelling demands being imposed on his squad provides solid preparation for the modern realities of football.
"If you are going to be a toplevel player these days, you need be attuned mentally, " said the Celtic manager. "The game is global, you have to get on planes and deal with everything else. Coming here helps prepare the players for that."
Strachan is speeding up his hunt for a new left-back and experienced striker, although Diego Tristan said yesterday that the Scottish climate would rule out any move to Parkhead. The managerwants his current squad to take another step forward against New England, but denies there is a point to prove after a 4-0 rout by DC United.
"We want to win every game we play, that's it, " he said. "Last yearwe might have had a point to prove that we were good enough to win the league. Well, we proved we were by 20 points."
Strachan will also catch up with Steve Nicol, the New England coach, and grimaced in mock-horror when recalling their Scotland days together.
"I actually asked Andy Roxburgh (then Scotland coach) never to let him share a room with me again, " said Strachan. "It was certificate 18 stuff."
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