LIAM HENDERSON expected to be running round Lennoxtown with his youth team pals this week.

Instead, the 17-year-old has been running up against Ukraine opposition, while playing alongside Celtic's first-team stars.

The former Hearts youth signing – whose father, Nicky, played for Partick Thistle and Hamilton Accies – did not get the call to join the squad which travelled to Germany until after he had performed well against Crewe in a close-door game on Saturday.

But the midfielder has made the most of the chance, catching the eye with a mature showing as he joined another rising star, Darnell Fisher, in the starting XI against Sevastopol on Wednesday.

Henderson said: "I didn't find out I was coming until two days before we left.

"I knew a few of the young lads were injured, so I thought if I did well in the game against Crewe there might have been a chance for me to get into the squad."

But that was nothing compared to the thrill Henderson experienced when he discovered he was going to play in the opening tour game.

"I wasn't expecting this so soon," he told the club's website. " I thought I'd be training with the boys, and maybe watching the games from the bench, if I was lucky. But it was brilliant to start the game.

"Beram Kayal, Dylan McGeouch and Kris Commons all talked to me during the game, so that was really good.

"They were giving me some great advice and I was happy with my own performance. The coaches were happy with me, so hopefully that's put me into their minds now."