ANGE POSTECOGLOU spoke about his new bhoy Yuki Kobayashi after he got his first minutes for Celtic on Saturday.

The Japanese defender joined up with his teammates in Portugal and got the final ten minutes during a 4-3 defeat to Rennes. The game was played behind closed doors in Portugal and served as a fitness exercise for the bhoys looking to get back into the swing of things.

For Yuki, it was about taking the first steps in a Celtic jersey and becoming familiar with the way the team plays. Yuki has been brought in now, but Ange preferably likes to sign players who bed in over time.

Kobayashi will unlikely be a major starter this season for Ange, but if he shows what he can do on the training field, Yuki will get opportunities.

Speaking after the game, Ange reiterated it was all about getting up to speed for his latest Japanese signing.

“It’s still very early for him, it’s just an introduction,” Postecoglou told Celtic TV.

“We’ve got a good three weeks before he is even available to play so it’s just a matter of him getting to know the lads and how we train.

“As always, the boys have been really good…the environment to bringing the new guys in and making them feel comfortable.

“He gets the next few weeks to bring himself up to speed.”

Yuki will be registered to play on midnight January 1st. The first game he can play for Celtic is at Ibrox. Barring some major defensive injuries, we’re unlikely to see the former Vissel Kobe centre-back make his debut there.