MIZUNO HAPPY DESPITE DELAYED DEBUT

Celtic's new signing Koki Mizuno is relieved that his Parkhead career is now up and running.
The 22-year-old from Japan signed from J-League side JEF in January but due mostly to the inclement weather in Scotland, he had to wait patiently for his first competitive debut which came for the reserves in last week's 4-1 victory over Rangers at Airdrie United's Excelsior Stadium.
The wide midfielder was also in the Hoops side for their game against Gretna on Monday afternoon. And though he was forced off during the 5-0 victory with an ankle injury,
Mizuno is delighted to have started playing for his new club.
``Since I signed, four reserve games have been called off,'' he told Celtic
View. ``So for myself, and the club, the Rangers game was a really important match and I was just glad to get to be involved in that kind of fixture. ``We managed to get a good result, which was important as well.
``I felt comfortable playing in the game and I was happy, as well as relieved that I'd managed to play my first game in Scotland.
``It is a bit more physical. You find the players are that bit taller and
sometimes you get challenges when you don't expect it.
``In the Rangers game, there were some tackles from behind and that doesn't really happen in Japan.
``But overall, I don't see a big difference in style.''
Mizuno is hoping to break through in the first team squad alongside fellow
countryman Shunsuke Nakamura before the end of the season.
He said: ``My main target is to win a place on the bench for the first team over the next few months. ``But in order to do that, I know that I need to earn the right by doing well for the reserves. ``Of course, I want to play for the first team but to start with I might need
to to come on as a substitute and take it from there.''

* I'd stick him in the starting 11 now...can't be any worse then the current midfield

 

He got injured in the reserve game against Gretna.

 

He looks good so far. A good set up for one of the goals. Riordon looked really good although it was the poorest opposition u could face I suppose.

 

shame he got injured, as i would like a little taster of him before the season finishes...i think Hartley should start, we need a bit of bite in midfield...please please please keep that lump of * Donati away from Ibrox!

 

Riordan has scored in his last 3 or 4 reserve games, not bad going but still won't merit a place in the squad.

 

didnt we score 4 of the 5 goals while koki was on the pitch
says alot about him u could say

 

We scored 3 at the weekend with Caldwell on the picth.

 

yeah against rangers we scored 4. tink he set up one.
he set up a couple v gretna then got injured
hutchie injured too btw

 

and we scored in the reserve match with chris killen on the pitch........

 

nice to finally hear some good reports on mizuno, was started to get worried he'd fade away and then go back to japan. looking forward to watching him next season

 

He will be a refreshing presence on the pitch. I'd put him on the main team for the last 2 games, to let him accommodate. *, I'd even put him on the bench vs Der Hun(home games), in case of dire emergency. He's not worried about the Scottish footballing style, that's good.

 

His assist for Cawley's goal was sublime in that match.Incidently,I've read good things about Cawley and seen him play a couple of times and he looks like he has a really good chance of making it at Celtic.

 

good news,seems he's starting to settle in,hopefully he gets a run before seaon is finished

 

Yeah, he should get a game at least.

 

Shame he's injured we could do with freshening the middle up!

 

Aye, but he could at least play the orcs in home games, used as a sub.