I joined Celtic when I was eight but I had to leave Hoops to better my career – I’ve not looked back since
EWAN OTOO has no regrets at ditching Celtic for Dunfermline — after falling in love with the rough and tumble of the Championship.
The defender came through the Hoops academy having first joined the Parkhead club when he was EIGHT.
And he signed his first pro contract with them four years ago, going on to captain their Lowland League B side.
But a loan spell with the Fifers last season convinced Otoo, now 21, the time was right to finally go and play men’s football.
And having signed a permanent deal with James McPake’s men, he hasn’t looked back since.
Otoo, whose side host Inverness tomorrow, said: “When you come from academy football you must adapt quickly.
read more celtic stories
“My physicality put me in a good position for the league.
“I’ve really enjoyed the physical side of things that you don’t get in academy football. I’ve enjoyed stepping up to that.
“When we were playing for the B team it was still all possession-based and teams didn’t really press us, so there wasn’t too much of the physical side of things.
“But in the Championship the contests are a lot more even, so it’s different.”
Most read in Football
Otoo has represented Scotland at Under-19s and is also eligible to play for Ghana.
And he reckons the Pars is the perfect place to develop his game. He said: “It was the right step to come here and I’ve not looked back since.
“I didn’t have any doubts and was always confident about stepping up. I wanted to show people I was ready to play at this level.
“I’ve done well so far but there’s more to come and I’ll show that as the season goes on. I’m looking forward to it.
“Every game’s a tough game, a proper fight, but I think we’re competing well.
“There’s nothing to be scared of and I’m sure we’ll be right in there towards the end of the season.
“In all the teams we have played against no team has completely overrun us, there has been no one we have felt we couldn’t compete against.
“So we’re looking to keep going game by game and see where it takes us.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page