JONJOE Kenny is excited by the prospect of taking part in his first Old Firm derby - and the on-loan Everton full-back reckons that growing up in Liverpool gives him an idea of what to expect this Sunday.
The 24-year-old joined Celtic in January, a few weeks after Rangers' 1-0 win in the last meeting between the two rivals.
The right-back is expected to start for the hosts at Parkhead this weekend and he insists that everyone in the squad understands the importance of the rivalry.
And while Kenny hasn't sampled derby day in Glasgow, he thinks his experience of growing up in Liverpool will serve him well in his preparation for the Premiership clash.
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He told the Celtic website: "Everyone here knows what a derby’s like.
"All the players here have played in some sort of derby but I know this is one of the biggest derbies in the world. I’m really looking forward to this and it’ll be another big moment in my career.
"I can’t wait to get going. All the players know what this is about and the build-up to it.
"You need to try and not get too emotional and be as calm-headed as possible which is difficult to do knowing how big the game is and what it means to people around the club.
"In Liverpool, the Merseyside Derby was massive for me growing up and I’ve learned to be as calm as possible and enjoy the moment.
"You don’t have to think about the game too much leading up to it and that can be hard because it’s well documented. You’ve got to take it day by day and enjoy the occasion.
"I didn’t see the game in January but I don’t think you need to think about it too much. You know what it’s about and you just need to focus on you, to go out there and show people what we’re about and how good we can be."
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Kenny added that although there will be no fans cheering him on from the stands this Sunday, he believes he and his team-mates can harness their desire when they take on Steven Gerrard's side.
"For me, as a player, I thrive off fans, especially being at home," he said.
"What the fans bring is massive, and the fanbase here is huge. I’ve seen videos of the atmosphere and fans signing before the game and during it.
"I’ve seen how good the atmosphere is and the fans make up a massive part of the game.
"However, although we can’t benefit from their support right now, it’s important we still bring that passion into the game while keeping cool at the same time."
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