doumbe delighted to be back in action
Gregor Kyle
HIS last game for Celtic was at home against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League but Joe Doumbe was not grumbling at either the venue or the opposition for his return to football action.
There are few players who would view a near-empty Excelsior Stadium in Airdrie as a ‘field of dreams’, but for Doumbe, the recent Reserve League 5-0 win over Gretna was every bit as important, on a personal level, as the European tie.
It was on this bumpy, wind-bitten ground that his Achilles and six months of toil, sweat and tears would be tested and even though he only played the first 45 minutes, he passed with flying colours.
Starting the game at left-back, Doumbe put in a solid performance before he was withdrawn at half-time as a precaution.
“It was great to get back out playing in a competitive match again and the fact that we won the game in good style was another bonus,” Doumbe told the Celtic View. “We scored four inside the first half-hour of the match and got a fifth late in the game.
“I only played the first half because I felt a little pain in my hamstring, but you expect to get small, niggling injuries when you have been out for so long with a serious injury.
“It’s something that I am already getting over and I’ll be back in full training very soon. I should even be available for the next reserve games.
“But it was just great getting the chance to get back out on a football pitch again and I hope that I can continue to be involved in the reserve team in the coming weeks.”
While the first-team squad has travelled the length and breadth of Europe these past few months in pursuit of their UEFA Champions League and domestic aims, Doumbe has been forced to pull up a seat at home and take on the role of spectator.
This has proved to be a frustrating experience, even for one who has remained so upbeat throughout his injury, but it has given him the chance to learn more about the Scottish game, his team-mates and their domestic opponents.
“I have obviously been watching the title race while I have been out injured and it has been much closer this year,” said Doumbe. “We have a difficult job, everyone understands that, but I still feel that there’s everything to play for between now and the end of the season.
“I really want to get back in the team and, who knows, maybe I will get a goal that will help us win the league.”
Times have changed considerably since Doumbe hit his dramatic and completely unexpected match-winner in last year’s Hampden final and when he returned after the summer to rejoin his team-mates, a number of new faces stood in the ranks.
The likes of Massimo Donati, Scott Brown and Scott McDonald had all been signed and in January this year, Andreas Hinkel, Barry Robson and Georgios Samaras further bolstered the squad.
What stands out for Doumbe, though, is the age of the players who have arrived at the club and the fact that several of those young stars have stepped up to the plate and proved themselves to be consistent match-winning performers.
“This year we are a younger team and some individuals have definitely improved,” he said. “Aiden McGeady is probably the best example of that and he is a wonderful player who is having a fantastic season. He is not only creating opportunities and putting in good performances, but he is winning games for the team.
“Artur Boruc is also proving himself to be a great goalkeeper, one of the very best in Europe and he has shown that in Scotland and in Europe.
“There is a lot of quality in the first-team squad,” he added. “But playing and training with the reserves has also shown to me that there are a lot of good young players at the club as well.
“Some of them will certainly progress to the first team if they continue to work hard and improve.”
Read the full and exclusive interview with Joe Doumbe ONLY in this week’s Celtic View. On sale NOW.
Also in this week’s issue:
• Andreas Hinkel says the title can still be ours.
• Tribute to John Cushley.
• Willie Maley anniversary marked.
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