JAMIE McCart reckons the harsh realities of life at Alloa softened the blow of bidding farewell to Celtic, writes Alisdair Fraser.

The Scotland Under-21 defender joined Inverness Caley Thistle on a permanent deal earlier this month after a temporary stint with the Wasps.

McCart knows some Old Firm youngsters might have turned their nose up at a loan spell with League One part-timers, but reckons it was the best move he could have made.

Read more: Neil Cameron: Do patronising Everton fans deserve Kieran Tierney?​

The spell at Recreation Park reminded the central defender of why he loves football while also signalling it was time to forge a career away from the sheltered environs of Celtic Park.

After starring in Saturday’s 5-0 Caley Thistle win at Keith, McCart stressed: “I really enjoyed my first spell here at Inverness on loan, so I was delighted to come back – I didn’t hesitate.

“This a brilliant club and the people within it are excellent. I was out of contract at Celtic and the last time I spoke with Brendan Rodgers we both agreed I wouldn’t be playing first team football there next season.

“I had to move on and find somewhere else to play. I like to think I’m quite mature about things and live for the long-term rather than the short-term.

“I understood it was in my best interests for progressing my career and getting to the highest level possible. Brendan was outstanding with me, so I had no issues with that.

“You’ve just got to get playing games and I’m desperate to come here and get back into the starting 11, then prove myself from there.

“Alloa last season was brilliant. I thought long and hard about the step of going down to League One and a lot of people’s ego wouldn’t have allowed that.

Read more: Kristoffer Ajer tells Kieran Tierney his Celtic team-mates are desperate for him to stay

“But it was the best thing I could ever have done. The club and people there were brilliant with me. I think that was probably my most productive spell. That put me in a good spot for leaving Celtic.”

Manager John Robertson has long since embraced modern-thinking, but is not adverse to old-fashioned physical punishment in pre-season.

McCart admitted the work last week was an eye-opener. He said: “This is our second week of pre-season and the first was the hardest week of my life – everything you could possibly imagine without a football.

“But we are all feeling fit and getting our sharpness back with the games now coming thick and fast.

“Hopefully we will hit the ground running come the start of the Championship.”