It’s a do-or-die season for Celtic’s Adam Matthews

Adam Matthews is out to lock down his place in the Celtic side this season and secure himself an extension to his Hoops contract.

The Wales internationalist is in the final year of his deal, which contains an option in the club’s favour.

And while he is expected to be kept on, with a new manager in place in the shape of Ronny Deila and despite relatively recent injury troubles, he is taking nothing for granted.

“Last season was a great one for the team but disappointing for me personally,” admitted the 22-year-old.

“I had a lot of niggly hamstring trouble and a shoulder injury, too, so I missed quite a bit of football. I have had a nice break since then and, hopefully, all the problems are behind me now.

“The competition for the right-back position is really strong with Mikael Lustig and Darnell Fisher both pushing for a place.

“It is good to have that, though, because it keeps you sharp in training. You know if you have a bad week, you know you won’t be playing at the weekend.”

That will be decision for the former Stromsgodset manager, Deila, to make.

“This is the first time I’ve been at a club when the manager has changed, so it’s a new thing for me but he has been brilliant so far,” says Matthews.

“The training’s a bit different but that is because the manager is trying to get us to play the way he wants to play.

“We do more passing drills and more shape. I think he wants us to play more from the back so that’s what we’ve been doing in training.

“It is different but it is good if we get it right we’ll be a very good team this season. From a personal point of view, I know what I have to do.

“This is the last year of my contract so I have to get in the team and stay there.”

The former Cardiff star is aided by his versatility.

“Right-back is my best position but wherever I’m asked to play I’ll do my best,” he said. “I played left-back a couple of times as well as right-midfield.”

And that could be a help with the Hoops facing a hectic pre-season that sees them facing trips to Austria, Germany, Finland and Iceland in quick succession.

“It will be a tough pre-season but everyone enjoys it more when the ball’s out. The travelling element’s not a problem. We’re used to it.

“Celtic are a massive club so people want to play us all around the world. We flew to America to play Real Madrid at the start of the season. It’s good for us to travel the world and see our fans.”