BOLI Bolingoli has had a fast start to life at Celtic –now he is challenging his fellow full back Jeremie Frimpong to a sprint race to see who is the best athlete at the club, writes Stewart Fisher.

The 24-year-old Belgian, set to be restored to the Parkhead line-up for the visit to Easter Road , revealed last night that he used to stage races with his brother Emeraude, a player in the Belgian amateur leagues with Eendracht Aalst, and his famous footballing cousins Romelu and Jordan Lukaku. While it was the latter who usually came out on top, Bolingoli fancies his chances but knows the teenage Dutchman, who played a starring role on the opposite flank on his debut against Partick Thistle, could give him a run for his money.

“I’d like to race against Jeremie,” said Bolingoli, “I think in the team it’s between me and him.

“We haven’t had a race yet, but it will come. I used to have sprint competitions against my cousins when I was younger, to see who was the fastest. Jordan was the fastest – it used to be Jordan, Romelu then me - but I’d like to try again now. My little brother Emeraude was also there, but Jordan was the fastest one of the family.”

Life in the fast lane has taken a period of adjustment for Bolingoli, as much for the pace of life off the pitch as on it. While he is accustomed to good squads at previous clubs such as Club Bruges and Rapid Vienna, he has never found himself as mobbed by fans as he is in Glasgow. “The big change for me is that, in Scotland, football is really alive – it’s everything for the people, “ he said. “As a result, everywhere I go, I get recognised. It was a little strange for me at first because I couldn’t walk around the streets normally like I used to. That was different and it’s good that people know who you are, as long as you keep your focus. I wasn’t recognised nearly as much when I played in Austria. People in Glasgow ask for photographs and autographs and that’s fine with me.”

Bolingoli proved his worth during the Old Firm match and isn’t content to rest on his laurels, though.“There is more to come from me for sure,” said the 24-year-old.