Mika Baur having to adjust to Celtic's relentless schedule on the fly

Mika Baur has been dropped into the deep end of playing twice per week on repeat, something he is not used to from his early career in Germany.

The midfielder joined Celtic from Paderborn on a bargain deal worth around £4.5million and has been one of the better summer recruits. Baur is one of the true ball-playing players in this Celtic team, always wanting the ball, and while he is playing a little out of position, he is starting to add the chippy side to his game that he is going to need to play in the deep midfield.

Celtic have been dealing with a relentless schedule of late, playing twice per week since the international break due to three Europa League games in quick success, and the only midweek tha didn't have Europa League football had a Premiership game.

That's not something Baur is used to having played in the second tier for Paderborn last season, and he did not play European football.

“To play every three days is different for me. I think I have played the same amount of games now that I had last season by the winter break," Baur has said.

“But I like it. That’s what you want. You want to play all the time, more playing than training. I am really enjoying it. And I think the pressure to win is a good kind of pressure. It’s better than (trying) not to lose. So I really enjoy it,”

He added: “First of all, I want to work hard for the team, for myself, that I can prove myself and I can play on the stage, help the team, put in a shift, hard work.

“That’s what I have to do first. And then after this, the skill comes, playing with the ball. But first of all, it’s showing heart on the field. I was really happy that it was appreciated.”

Baur was instrumental in Thursday night's big win over Besiktas in the Europa League, and speaking about the game, he added: "The second half was pure heart, pure fight. I’m not here for a long time, but I think that’s what it’s all about. This win feels unbelievable because we deserved it. We fought for it.

“The team is really, really close together. We know that we had a tough couple of weeks, but you can feel it in the training sessions, how the team is working together, the feeling, the believing is always there.

“And it was there on the pitch. That’s what we have to show week by week, every three days. It was not just our win. The atmosphere was great. I’m really, really thankful for every supporter in the stadium. They gave us a lot of energy. We all fight together. That makes me happy.”