Nadir Ciftci has insisted that he has never given up on making it as a Celtic striker.

The forward has toiled since arriving at the club from Tannadice this summer, with the start against St Johnstone at the weekend only the second time he has kicked off a league game for the Hoops this season.

His brace will have done his confidence no harm at all but he has insisted that he has always maintained his belief that he can make the grade with Celtic.

“I have never had any doubts,” said the Turkish forward. “You have to believe in yourself. I don’t know if I really knew how hard it would be to get into the team here because there are so many good players.

“I was maybe thinking that I would get in a bit easier but there are so many good players. You have to understand what the quality is like – it is right through the team and the competition is tough.

“But even when it seemed like I was far away from playing, I have always been confident that I can score goals for this club.

“My family, my Dad in particular, they kept me believing that it would happen for me. I have had to be patient but I feel as though if I get a run of games then I can start to score goals.

“It is hard when you are not in the team. But it is important that I can show when I get a chance to start that I can score. You have to keep working hard and keep positive. Hopefully I can show that I have been doing that.”

And Ciftci’s chin has also been kept up with regular chats with Ronny Deila. The Hoops boss has been unable to overlook the form of Leigh Griffiths who, with 19 goals to his name already this season, has been a permanent feature of the Hoops first-team.

Ciftci has insisted that he has watched with admiration as his rival for the striker’s role has banged in goal after goal – although he would love the chance for the two to kick off together.

“I think there is a way that we can both play but of course that is down to the manager, “said Ciftci. “Leigh has been amazing this season. He works hard and he is getting his rewards.

“It is great for the team that we have someone like that but I think if we could both play together that maybe we would score a lot of goals. We are different kinds of players but I think we can play with one another.

“Sometimes the gaffer changes things during the game and we play together. Maybe we can show that it is a good combination.”

With Celtic out of European competition, talk will revolve around the prospect of a domestic Treble for the Parkhead side. The rarity of such an achievement underlines how tough a proposition that is but Ciftci is optimistic that he will get the chance to play his part in that.

Ciftci was at Tannadice last term as Celtic were pushing for a clean sweep and he is aware of how momentum can make any team tough to come up against.

“Last season after Christmas, Celtic were really tough for anyone to play against,” he reflected. “They seemed to get stronger and stronger as the season went on.

“Hopefully that is the same against this season.”

And aside from the obvious reasons why Ciftci would aim to be part of a Treble winning squad, there is the additional fact that more games will mean more opportunities.

The 23-year-old got his start at the weekend and last Thursday in Istanbul because Griffiths is carrying an injury but should Celtic find themselves launching a three-pronged assault on the domestic scene, there will be a requirement for players to be rested at times.

“I would love to be successful here and be part of something important,” said Ciftci. “But just now I just want to focus on playing as many games as possible. It is hard to feel as though you are sharp unless you are playing all the time but there are so many good players here that it isn’t easy to do that.

“But that is the same at every big club. I want to win things and be successful but first of all I need to show that I am ready to play. The gaffer has been great with me and now I want to show that I am ready to play for him.”