OLIVER Burke has told his Scottish team mates at Celtic they are better than the players he came up against in the Bundesliga in Germany and Premier League in England ahead of their Europa League meeting with Valencia.
Burke, who has joined the double treble winners from West Brom on loan until the end of the season, is set to make his European debut in the first leg of the last 32 double header against the Spanish side at Parkhead tonight.
Brendan Rodgers, the Glasgow club’s manager, stressed to his charges they are every bit as good as their opponents following their final training session at Lennoxtown yesterday.
And Burke, who is set to start after recovering from the ankle injury he suffered in the William Hill Scottish Cup win over St Johnstone on Sunday, believes Rodgers is right.
READ MORE: Valencia manager Marcelino insists Celtic have clutch of players who can go on to higher level
The former Nottingham Forest and Red Bull Leipzig winger reckons the likes of Callum McGregor and James Forrest are a cut above many of the famous footballers he has encountered during his career.
“When you look at the Scottish boys I think they are very much underrated,” he said. “Scottish football is sort of looked down upon, I don’t know why.
“Some of the boys in the Celtic squad I am now playing beside have better quality than what I played with in Germany or in the Premier League with West Brom.
“I see it. But I guess everybody else has to watch us play and realise how good the quality is we have in our team. Then they will know.
“I think sometimes you have to take a look at yourself and realise how good we are as a team.
“Obviously you have to look at the opposition, their formation and how they play as a team. But it’s also important to realise our qualities.”
Burke has played out wide for the majority of his career, but Rodgers has played him up front since he arrived in Scotland back in January.
He has done well in attack for Celtic and has scored three goals in seven appearances as well as providing.
The 21-year-old is hoping his speed can be a potent weapon for the Glasgow club against Valencia up front.
He admitted he was inspired by Kylian Mbappe’s stunning goal for Paris Saint-Germain against Manchester United in the Champions League at Old Trafford on Tuesday evening.
READ MORE: Brendan Rodgers: Why can't Celtic beat Valencia and win the Europa League? We have to believe
“It is obviously great to see players using their pace and using it to great effect,” he said. “Hopefully I can do that. I believe I have showed that a little bit already. I just have to continue giving all I can for the team and showing my pace.”
“Great players have changed positions and roles as they have continued and progressed. I like it, I like it a lot. I am enjoying the position. I like leading the line. Maybe it’s somewhere that can become a proper position for me.
“At the moment, I just have to keep learning the position and learning off the manager, soaking everything he tells me all in, put it out there and use it on the pitch.”
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