O'Brien happy in defence

Celtic forward Jim O'Brien insists he has no qualms about being used as an emergency right-back by manager Gordon Strachan.

Youngster ready to switch positions

The 20-year-old is accustomed to playing as a striker or winger for the reserve side, but made his debut for the club a fortnight ago when he came off the bench to play in the back four at Gretna.

The Hoops are now preparing for a game against Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday and, with Mark Wilson, Jean-Joel Perrier-Doumbe and Paul Caddis all unavailable, O'Brien may be forced to reprise the role.

"I never envisaged my full Celtic debut being as a right-back," he said.

"I never even envisaged it being away from home, but I suppose you can never call it.

"That's just the way things happen.

"As things stand, it looks as though there might be a slot at right-back. Who knows what will happen though.

"The boys who have been playing there have picked up knocks while Paul Caddis, who would probably have been given a chance, is also injured.

"I came on there against Gretna and I played right-back in a closed-doors friendly with Dundee last week and I felt okay.

"If the manager wants me to play there, I'll go in and do my best, give it everything and try to learn as much as I can about the position."