NEW Celtic signing Rabiu Ibrahim has insisted that he is ready for the hurly burly of the SPL.

The pint-sized Nigerian made an immediate impression on Neil Lennon when he appeared in a bounce game at Lennoxtown last week, with the Hoops boss revealing he knew within an hour that he liked the look of the 20-year-old.

Celtic have given the midfielder the oppor-tunity to relaunch his career after a difficult time at PSV Eindhoven and the player is deter-mined to seize his chance.

The Hoops take on Falkirk in the semi-final of the League Cup on Sunday and if inter-national clearance is sanctioned in time, the player would be eligible to play. Certainly, he has declared himself fit and is keen to make an impression.

“I am ready to play,” he said. “It is up to the manager, but I am here because I am ready.

“But there are a lot of good players here. The manager has said good things to me. I feel flattered by it and I am ready to work hard for the team.

“I am sure they will see the best of me.

“I’m an exciting player with flair and creativity. I love to assist goals as well as score them, but I’m also a very hard worker and will work hard for the team.”

Rangers winger Sone Aluko is already well-known to Ibrahim, but the player did not seek out the advice of his fellow countryman before making the move to Glasgow.

“I know Sone, but I didn’t speak to him before I moved.

“I didn’t need to. I knew a little about Celtic. I watched them in the Champions League and I also know about the great rivalry between Celtic and Rangers.”