Viljami Sinisalo targets long-term Celtic number one spot

Viljami Sinisalo says he envisages himself becoming Celtic’s long-term number one.

The Finn joined the Hoops from Aston Villa last summer and has started each of the Hoops’ last three games after Kasper Schmeichel suffered a shoulder injury last month.

Sinisalo will get a further chance to show his credentials when he plays one of the biggest games of his career on Sunday against St Johnstone in the semi-final of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.

The 23-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Exeter in League One, is hopeful that he is on a journey towards becoming Celtic’s first-choice keeper.

“Yes, that’s always been the aim,” he said. “That’s the whole plan of me coming here.

“I want to play for this football club. I want to be the number one here. That’s been the aim since the first day I walked into this football club.

“I’m trying to do my best. Hopefully the performances can show that and the way I train every day can show that I can be that.

“Kasper’s been brilliant. Me and him have a great working relationship and we’re great friends with each other. He’s a brilliant goalkeeper. He’s done really well for the football club.

“With the career he’s had, I’m there to learn from him. Hopefully one day I can be a number one here, but that’s ultimately the plan.”

Celtic boss Rodgers is looking to maintain an unblemished record at Hampden across his two spells in charge.

“What I’m really happy about is when I came here in 2016, there was always a wee bit of trepidation,” said Rodgers, alluding to the fact Celtic had lost to Ross County, Kilmarnock, Hearts, St Mirren and Inverness at the national stadium in the years prior to his arrival.

“I think Celtic went through a period where it was difficult both in semi-finals and finals. We sit here today, now arrived as a football club in the feeling that we will win. We have a feeling that we can go there and perform.

“And that’s a mindset that is now with everyone at the club, with players, with supporters. And then you go and deliver. And that’s the plan.

“It doesn’t guarantee you anything because you still have to do the work. But it’s much better going there feeling that you can tip the scales more your way than not.

“That just comes from that winning mentality, that feeling, that culture that you create and obviously then going and really owning the pitch at Hampden.

“And that’s what, in my time here in the main, we’ve done, both in semi-finals and finals. There have been some that have been very, very difficult. But that edge that you can have through winning there can help you, hopefully.”