Colby Donovan: Playing under Martin O’Neill at Celtic is ‘a dream come true’

Celtic full-back Colby Donovan was not even born when Martin O’Neill led the club the first time around but he admitted playing under the experienced manager was “a dream come true”.

The 19-year-old feels O’Neill is again restoring confidence after taking charge of Celtic for a third time.

O’Neill has secured 10 wins and seven clean sheets in 11 matches in charge over two spells this season.

He firstly guided the Celtic players through the shock departure of Brendan Rodgers during an interim period at the helm and is now restoring order following the brief but chaotic tenure of Wilfried Nancy.

“It’s a dream come true for me,” Donovan said. “My dad used to tell me all about the stories about Martin and then for him to come in and me to play under him, it’s just… words can’t describe it to be honest.

“He’s been brilliant with the boys, he’s been great since he came in in his interim spell and then for him coming back, it’s just brilliant.

“Since Martin’s come in, he’s just told us to play our game, play how we’ve played for the past odd years, so he’s just come in, he’s given us a big confidence boost and we just need to keep going now, we need to keep winning games.”

Celtic now face Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday knowing they will need points from their final two matches.

Having helped Celtic to victory over Feyenoord in Rotterdam under O’Neill, Donovan is convinced they can get a result in Italy which would set them up for a home clash with Utrecht seven days later.

“You’ve seen it at Feyenoord, we played them off the pitch and that’s what we’re going to try and do again,” he said.

“We’re going to go over there with no fear, play with confidence again and then hopefully get the three points.”

Donovan has started two games in Europe this season, both away from home, helping Celtic to a draw against Red Star Belgrade before starring in the Netherlands.

“Belgrade was brilliant and Feyenoord, going away there was brilliant,” he said.

“Just to get the start in Europe, for the managers to put me in, in the starting XI, going over there and playing my game, putting on a show.

“We picked up the point in Belgrade and then Feyenoord the three points.

“It’s a brilliant confidence boost to go out in Europe, you’re playing against the top players and to do well against them, it gives you a great confidence boost.”

Donovan was in the starting line-up on Sunday as Celtic beat Auchinleck Talbot 2-0 at Rugby Park to set up a Scottish Gas Scottish Cup fifth-round clash with Dundee at Parkhead.

The right-back was happy to be given the nod on the left side of defence as Kieran Tierney was rested ahead of crucial games against Bologna and Hearts.

“It was good,” he said. “It’s something new for me. I’m normally playing right-back and it’s just another side, so it’s something different that I need to take in my game.

“It’s better for me that I can play right-back and left-back. So getting the start at left-back, it was brilliant.”