HATEM Elhamed has backed his fellow full-back Boli Bolingoli to come good at Celtic and urged Parkhead supporters to be patient with the left back in the wake of his error-strewn display against CFR Cluj.

Bolingoli, a £3.5 million signing from Rapid Vienna last month, has been brought to Glasgow to take over from Kieran Tierney, who completed his £25 million move to Arsenal yesterday just before the Premier League transfer window closed.

However, the Belgian has failed to impress greatly since arriving in Scotland and was poor in the Champions League third round qualifier in Romania on Wednesday when he gifted Dan Petrescu’s side the opening goal.

His Israeli team mate Elhamed – who has, in stark contrast, shone in his first two outings for the Scottish champions – is confident he can establish himself in Neil Lennon's side following the departure of Tierney. “Boli is a good guy and a good player,” he said. “He is also a new player. I think give him time and he will do well.”

Elhamed, a £1.6 million signing from Hapoel Be’er Sheva last month, did well on his debut against St Johnstone on Saturday before limping off injured and set up his new team mate James Forrest for the equaliser against Cluj.

But the defender, who has been charged with replacing Celtic great Mikael Lustig at right back, believes he will be able to perform better for his new club in the coming weeks when he gets more games under his belt.

“I think I have started well,” he said. “It was very important for me to start like this. When you come to a new club the first season is very, very important. I am happy that I have done well in the first two games.

“I am quite confident. I think I came here at the right age and at the right moment for me. My pre-season wasn’t very good so I have been happy with my performance in the last two games. When I get 100 per cent fit I will be better.

“In the last three months I didn’t play. These have been my first two games of the season. I didn’t really have a pre-season. One of the reasons for that was I wanted to come to Celtic. I wanted to play in the side. I am happy and so proud that this is my living now. I expect far more in future.”

The 28-year-old has been impressed with the quality of his new team mates and is confident that Celtic will be able to cope without Tierney this season.

“We still have many very talented players with good mentality and good passion,” he said. “We are still going to be good this season. It is really important for us to focus on the next game and the next match with Cluj next week. We want to win and go through to the play-off.

“Everybody on Wednesday night gave 100 per cent and showed a good mentality. We came back after we lost a goal and scored a goal and have a good advantage going into the next game.”

Lennon has revealed that he will be looking to sign five new players with the money that Celtic will receive from the Tierney sale and is keen to bring in another right back. But Elhamed is undeterred by that prospect. “You know it is a big club and we should have more competition to make the players more focused and give more than 100 per cent,” he said.

Elhamed admitted that he is looking forward to playing in his first European game at Parkhead on Tuesday night and is determined to help Celtic reach the group stages of the Champions League once again.

“I can’t wait for that,” he said. “I want to play in the Champions League with Celtic. It is my biggest dream at this age to come to Celtic and to play in the Champions League. It will be perfect for me.

“Yes, it was a very good result away. We scored one goal and that could be very important. The next game will be different. We are at home with our support. I expect a good game and I hope we can win.

“I look forward to next week, I don’t look too far. We need to do the job next week and hopefully next get to the play-off. Then we will see what happens.”