Celtic kid Ewan Henderson has vowed to be patient as he pushes for more regular inclusion in Brendan Rodgers’ first-team.

The midfielder started his first game for Celtic in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Motherwell, impressing with a performance that saw him take the sponsors’ man-of-the-match award for his display.

However, the 18-year-old has insisted that he is wary of letting anything go to his head as he looks to keep himself in Rodgers’ plans.

“I thought I had done well but you can always do better so I really don’t want to get too ahead of myself,” he said. “I just need to keep my head down and keep working hard in training. It is about working and listening and just trying to impress the manager.

“After the game the manager spoke to me to say that I had done really well but just to keep working hard and that is exactly what I intend to do. It is about trying to get in and stay in but just now I just need to be listening and doing what the manager asks of me.

“Hopefully whenever I do get a chance that I can make an impression.”

Elder brother Liam came through the ranks at Celtic before going to Italy last year, but Henderson has revealed that it was his sibling who was first to offer encouragement.

“I found out I was starting the game on Saturday and Liam facetimed me to wish me well,” he said. “He was as excited as I was. He was buzzing for me.

“But he knows how hard it is as well so I know that it’s great to go and get a full start but it’s just another step for me right now.”

Henderson came close to marking the occasion with a free-kick that went wide but he has accepted that he might not be getting the chance to take too many more after the set piece that Odsonne Edouard netted.

“I have been practising my free-kicks so I wanted a chance to take it. I was close with it but then you see him go and score one like that and you think, ‘aye, all right then.’”

Having been in and around the first-team this season, Henderson was not intimidated going into the game, something that he attributed to the manner in which he was accepted into the squad.

“I have been in a great position in that I have been training a lot with the first-team squad this season,” said the teenager. “It has helped me to see what the level is and what I have to do but it also helps when you go into games. I don’t really get nervous before games anyway but the fact that you have been around the players and know their game definitely benefits you when you are going into a game.

“They have all been really helpful with me.

“I can speak to them as team-mates now but at the same time I know how much I have still got to go.”

Celtic play Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow night before taking on Hibs at Easter Road in Scottish Cup duty on Saturday afternoon. Callum McGregor missed Sunday’s game with a slight knock while Scott Brown was suspended.

But with Olivier Ntcham not fully fit and Ryan Christie looking as though he has tweaked his hamstring, there could yet be a chance for Henderson to stay involved.

“I need to keep working and if I get the chance to play I’ll definitely take it but at the minute it’s just about being patient and working as hard as I can,” he said. “It goes without saying that I would love to play but it’s not my place to be talking about that.”

The youngster’s debut will be memorable for Motherwell’s goal and the reaction it sparked. Celtic were furious at the flouting of conventional sportsmanship when the Fir Park side took the chance to attack rather than give the ball back.

“I have never seen anything like it but the only good thing was that it actually didn’t matter in the end,” said Henderson. “I’ve never been in a youth game where that has happened and it was a bit surprising but the important thing was we won the game.”