Loovens grateful for Celtic chance

Loovens, 25, moved to Parkhead from Cardiff last summer and immediately found himself playing a bit-part role. But an injury to captain Stephen McManus has thrust the Dutch defender into the spotlight during the SPL run-in. Loovens has started five of the last six games and is set to keep his place alongside Gary Caldwell for Sunday's final match of the season against Hearts, which Celtic must win to stand any chance of claiming a fourth straight title. "It's not my place to speak about team selection; it's a choice that the manager has to make and I completely respect that," Loovens told Celtic View. "I've just tried to prove to people that I can do a job when I do come in. I think I've learned a lot this year, even just from watching matches. "But you want to play and help and the best way to learn about the game is by playing as often as possible. "I am lucky that I've been doing that for a few weeks now and I have really enjoyed being in the team. "Everyone here knows they will get games throughout the season and when you get that opportunity, you have to make the most of it. "I never expected to go into the team straight away. I knew I'd have to fight for my place. "You want to play in every game, but I just wanted to make sure that when I got my chance I did alright." Foreign players sometimes struggle to adapt to the pace of the SPL but three years at Ninian Park meant Loovens arrived ready-made for the Scottish game. "I think I've settled in well and got used to the style of football, but I disagree with people who say it's a lot quicker up here," he said. "I think the Championship is pretty much played at the same pace and there are a lot of good players in that division as well. "Because you play for Celtic you always have more of the ball and I think that's the big difference. "But the Championship was a battle every game and in that respect it was good that I had a few years of Championship football under my belt. "That really let me get used to the style of football that is played in Britain and has helped me settle at Celtic."

Source: Team_Talk