McCourt targets Hoops starting spot

Paddy McCourt says he doesn’t want to become an impact player for Celtic. The former Derry City play-maker is convinced that he can iron out the deficiencies in his game that prevent him from making a more sustained contribution. The mercurial talent has marked his only two starts for Celtic with spectacular solo goals against Falkirk and St Mirren. Those glimpses of brilliance showed Celtic fans exactly why Gordon Strachan signed McCourt on a three-year deal from the Brandywell last summer. The 25-year-old took a while to catch up with the fitness levels of his team-mates and made just five substitute appearances in his first season. But he feels in good shape now and is keen to return to the starting line-up in tomorrow night’s Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final against Hearts at Parkhead. “I don’t think any player will ever set out just to be an impact player,” said McCourt, who has also made five substitute appearances under Tony Mowbray. “I don’t think any player will stay at a club for more than two or three years if they are going to be on the bench all the time. They will obviously look to move somewhere where they are going to play. I would love to finish my career here, I love the club and I’ve always loved it. If that means playing 20 games and coming on in 15 then I’ll be quite happy, but I wouldn’t want to just be on the bench every week.” McCourt, who has two caps for Northern Ireland, believes he can now take his career to the next level. “I feel great, I haven’t missed a day of training all year,” he said. “Obviously the more games I get, the sharper I’ll get, but the two games I started I have felt great. I just want to be a regular starter, but it it’s up to me to rectify the wee things I’m missing in my game. If I put all that together I don’t think there will be much stopping me becoming a regular starter. I know the manager says he doesn’t think I’m the complete player. I know that myself and I’m working hard to improve.”