Celtic's Colby Donovan taking it 'game-by-game' after standout performance v Red Star in Belgrade

“Buzzing” Celtic youngster Colby Donovan says he is taking it game-by-game on his way to proving himself as a regular starter.

The 19-year-old right back was a standout performer in Wednesday night’s Europa League draw with Red Star Belgrade.

It was only the teenager’s third first-team start after being brought in following injuries to Alistair Johnston and Anthony Ralston.

But with Scotland international Ralston back in contention for the game in Serbia, it was unclear if Brendan Rodgers would stick with Donovan or go back to the tried and trusted option in a famously hostile atmosphere.

The manager kept faith in the youngster, and he repaid that trust by being one of the best players on the park as the Hoops took a vital point to open their league phase campaign.

Speaking after the game, Donovan said: “It was mental, the atmosphere. We all knew coming here and playing in front of that was going to be hard. So, to get a deserved point, we could maybe even have won the game in the end, but to get a draw was brilliant.

“I just try to play with no fear and with as much confidence as I can.

“As a young boy, you shouldn’t be playing with any fear. Having players like Callum and the other senior players next to you just makes everything so much easier. To go out there and put in a performance like we did, I’m buzzing.

“I’m just taking it game-by-game just now, if the gaffer puts me in I know I’ll put a strong performance in. So I was over the moon that he had enough trust in me to put me in for a game like this.

“You want to play in the first-team, you want to play for Celtic, it’s been my dream since I was young and to come out here and do it in a game like this was brilliant.

“I’m always ready to play with no fear.”