IT is often said it can be difficult for the offspring of famous footballers to deal with the weight of expectation should they try to follow their fathers into a career in the game.

Luca Connell doesn’t have that problem with his surname, but his dad Andrew did ensure that his son would carry a first name that is famed throughout football.

There can’t have been too many Luca’s running around when Connell was growing up in Liverpool after all, so where exactly did his old man’s inspiration come from?

“Well, it’s quite simple,” Connell said. “My dad’s favourite player when he was growing up was Gianluca Vialli, so it just came from there, really. That’s how I got it.

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“My dad loved Vialli. He was playing for Italy at the time and my dad loved Italy. My full name is Luca John Andy Connell. It’s quite plain in the middle, isn’t it?”

As well as being passed down that famous moniker, Connell inherited a love of the game from his dad, and in particular, for Everton.

Despite representing the Republic of Ireland at youth level and recently being called into the senior squad for the first time, Connell is a born and bred Scouser, so he knows only too well what it is like to be in a city that is so caught up in the rivalry between its two biggest football clubs.

Although, one adjustment he will have to make is in his feelings towards a group of supporters singing the anthem that Celtic and Liverpool share - You’ll Never Walk Alone.

“I’ve been thinking about that – but that’s the club, isn’t it, and you’ve got to respect the club,” he said. “I’m sure it will be good. My hero was probably Seamus Coleman, and I got to train with him the other day, so even better.

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“I’m looking forward to those big games, I can’t wait. I’ve been told about the rivalry, and I’ve been told that it is worse than Everton and Liverpool. But it is just another thing for me to look forward to.

“I spoke to Mick McCarthy and Robbie Keane [while on international duty] – they’ve both had the experience of playing for Celtic, so it obviously made sense.

“They both spoke highly of the club and couldn’t fault it, so that gave me another reason to put pen to paper.”

Connell’s Irish connection is also one that has given him a connection to Celtic.

“My mum’s mum and dad – my nan and grandad – are both from Dublin,” he said. “And they are Celtic fans.”

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So, while Connell may be well enough acquainted with Celtic and is walking into Glasgow with his eyes open, the Celtic support may be less acquainted with what to expect from the midfielder.

After all, the 18-year-old only broke into the Bolton first team in January, and only made 12 appearances for the club in total before being lured north.

“I’m a no.6 or no.8 in midfield,” he said. “I like to get on the ball and play, and go forward and try to make things happen.

“I might have to be patient, because there are a lot of good players here. But of course I’m also coming here to play, and I want to get straight into that first team as soon as I can and make a name for myself.

“It is unbelievable to sign for such a big club. It’s a dream come true for me to be able to put the Celtic shirt on. When the season starts I can hopefully make my debut and crack on from there.”