The Chelsea youngster has finally arrived at Celtic following his summer switch.
Landon Emenalo has expressed his excitement at finally beginning his Celtic career after his delayed arrival in Glasgow, with the Chelsea youngster ready to make his mark under Martin O’Neill.
The 18-year-old left-back joined the Scottish champions on loan on transfer deadline day, arriving alongside fellow Chelsea youngster Shim Mhueka as Celtic strengthened their options for the season. However, while Mhueka has already had opportunities to impress in a Celtic shirt, Emenalo has been forced to wait for his chance after an injury setback delayed his arrival in Scotland.
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The highly-rated defender remained in England to work on his fitness with Chelsea before finally linking up with his new team-mates at Lennoxtown. Now settled in Glasgow, Emenalo is ready to get down to business and believes the warm welcome he has received from the Celtic squad and coaching staff will help him adapt quickly to his new surroundings.
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Speaking to CelticTV, he said: “It’s really an honour to be here, especially after all this time. It felt good to train today and meet the guys. It’s a good group. So I can’t wait to get started. They (coaching staff) seem happy that I'm finally here, just giving me some words of encouragement, helping me. I’m excited to get going.”
Emenalo's arrival could prove particularly important for O’Neill, who has been searching for additional depth at left-back. The Celtic manager has had to rely on a number of players to fill the position, making the teenager's arrival a welcome boost as the campaign progresses.
The defender has also highlighted his versatility as a key strength, suggesting he can offer Celtic more than simply a natural option on the left side of the defence.
“I'm a left-back, I can drift inside, I can play as a midfielder. I can play as a third centre-back, but just as a player, I'm a hard worker, I'm versatile. There's not really a lot that I can't do.”
That flexibility could give Emenalo an opportunity to work his way into O’Neill’s plans, particularly as Celtic navigate a demanding schedule across domestic and European competitions. The teenager will also be reunited with a familiar face in Mhueka, who has already made six substitute appearances since arriving at Celtic Park.
Celtic also agreed a loan deal with Chelsea for young striker Shim Mheukaplaceholder image
Celtic also agreed a loan deal with Chelsea for young striker Shim Mheuka | Getty Images
Landon Emenalo on joining Celtic
Having known his fellow loanee since their Under-15 days, Emenalo has been keeping a close eye on his progress and is pleased to have someone familiar around him as he settles into life in Scotland.
“Obviously, I know Shim from Chelsea, so it’s nice to know someone here, but they’ve all welcomed me in, so it’s been pretty easy to join. Since he’s joined, I’ve been watching, been rooting for him, obviously. I think he’s done well, and I’ve known him since under-15s.”
Although Emenalo will not feature against Benfica in Thursday's European fixture because he is not registered in Celtic’s continental squad, he could come into contention for Sunday's meeting with Hearts.
For now, the young defender is focused on making up for lost time and experiencing the atmosphere at Celtic Park for himself.
“Just looking out and seeing the stadium, it’s crazy. It’s about 60,000. I can’t wait to get out there and hear them.”
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