Latest Celtic recruit James McCarthy has set the record straight over questions asked about his injury record as he insists he is in his prime years.

As quoted by the Daily Record, speaking at his first press conference as a Hoops player, the Irishman believes he is ready to go, but it is the managers call to make when he will be involved as he aims to lift trophies with his boyhood club.

When asked if he was still in his prime, McCarthy said: “That’s it. I’m a good age to come here, and I’m excited. I want a new challenge, I want to make sure I do well here, and I’m fully focused on doing well for this club.

“I feel good I have been training on my own. I’ve been training at Lennoxtown the last couple of days, so I feel good, and they’re happy enough with what I’ve been doing away from the club.

“I’ll be back involved with the team tomorrow. I don’t know if it’s this week, next week, two weeks. I just need to wait and see what the manager says.

“The club have put a bit of faith in me, and I’m looking forward to repaying that.”

When speaking about recent injury history, McCarthy added: “To be fair, the last two years I have been fit for the majority of games – near enough them all.

“Last season, I had a wee issue. Nothing serious. I think I was out for two or three weeks with it.

“Apart from that, I’ve been fit and ready to go. It’s just been one way or another why I haven’t been selected, but, as I said, I’m delighted to be here and really looking forward to a new challenge.”

This move feels like it has been on the cards for several years now with the club’s links to McCarthy.

Now, the midfielder gets to live out the dream of being a Celtic player, and you would imagine he is relishing that.

When his signing was announced, some fans did have questions over the 30-years fitness with his recent injury record during his spell down south.

But McCarthy appears to have put that to the back of his mind and will be looking to prove any doubters of his wrong.