Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on understanding Celtic 'history' and integrating with leaders

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has credited Celtic’s senior players in the dressing room.

The 32-year-old knows what an elite squad environment looks like, competed at the top level of football for Arsenal, Liverpool and England.

But he has relied on the knowledge of Callum McGregor, James Forrest and Kieran Tierney to learn about the unique environment in the west of Scotland.

Speaking after scoring the decisive goal in Celtic’s 1-0 win over St Mirren, he said he’s been looking up to the trio.

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has learned ‘different’ Celtic environment from Callum McGregor

Oxlade-Chamberlain said: “First and foremost lads that have experience who have done it before.

“They’re the boys I look to – Callum, James, KT, lads like that. Speaking to them, getting their experiences of different stadiums when we go away and what to expect.

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“They are the boys who have been there and done that. It’s a great thing to have in the changing room. We have a lot of young lads as well that are just excited and looking forward to the challenge.

“The experienced boys here are so important. Coming to this club, with so much history, no matter what you have done in your career, you have to understand this club and how things are.

“You have to understand the history and I have the ultimate respect for these boys and I learn off them. I integrate with them and then help in any way I can.

“I learn off Cal and how he does things, how he talks about games and what we need to expect. I take as much as I can from them and I have had to get up to speed quickly.

“It’s different up here. The derby was different but that was a great experience and those boys help prepare you for those situations.”

On the game itself, Oxlade-Chamberlain said: “Even through periods where we’ve not picked up results we wanted or performed well, we are still in with a chance.

“We are still in the race, right up there. We just focus on ourselves. Every game we want to win, then let the rest take care of itself.

“If you get side-tracked looking at others around you then it can affect you. We control our own performances and results.

“We are all excited about the challenge. It gives us a great chance and the manager and coaching staff have great experience.

“We have enough people in the building to get things done but every game is like a cup final at this point. All we can do is win them all and see where it leaves us.”

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Celtic’s current midfield options

Arne Engels made his return to action on Saturday, in a major boost for Martin O’Neill following two months without the midfielder.

The Belgian’s trio alongside Callum McGregor and Benjamin Nygren had previously become Celtic’s established first-choice midfield three.

Reo Hatate has dropped back out of Celtic’s starting XI after fighting his way back in with his performances at Ibrox last month,

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