Celtic's Carlton Cole happy to play senior role in Glasgow
Wednesday 18 November 2015 19:30, UK
Carlton Cole says he is happy to play a senior role at Celtic as he edges closer to a debut for the reigning Scottish champions.
The 32-year-old signed for Celtic last month as a free agent until 2017 and Cole, who won seven caps for England, is ready to take on a different kind of role at Celtic Park.
"I can use my experience to help those guys and try to implement that into my game when I'm playing for Celtic," Cole told Celtic View. "It's a different responsibility for me. Now I know that I've actually grown up because I'm the one who can impart advice.
"We have a good captain as well. Scott Brown's brilliant and he keeps the players on their toes. We get along really well and I'm thankfully the type of guy who can walk into any changing room and just get along with people.
"That's because I don't want to let those players down, so I've got to work my hardest then all the glory and the glamour can come after that. As long as the dressing room's tight and we're winning games, that's all that matters."
Cole took another step towards making his Celtic debut when he played in a game against Livingston last week in a bid to further build up his fitness.
He did not get on the scoresheet in the 4-1 victory but was happy to get an hour's action ahead of the visit of Kilmarnock on Saturday where he hopes to get some game time.
"I needed that game last week because it has been so long since I've played," Cole added. "Just being out there among the lads was great. It didn't go the way I dreamed about it but it was a start.
"When it's a start you've just got to take what you can. I worked hard, tried to influence it as much as I could, and that will come with more match sharpness and games.
"I was supposed to only play 45 minutes but with the person I am, if I feel like I can do a bit more, I'll do it. I asked the manager if I could do an extra 15 and they all know where I'm at but I've got to control that to make sure I don't get injured again. It's a fine line."
