THAT Liam Shaw modelled himself on his hero Steven Gerrard when he was growing up was easy to see when the English midfielder made his first appearance for Celtic against his former club Sheffield Wednesday in Wales on Wednesday afternoon.

It was only a pre-season friendly, no fans were in attendance and new manager Ange Postecoglou fielded a raft of youngsters, but Shaw, who played ahead of Ismaila Soro in a 4-1-4-1 formation, still caught the eye.

The 6ft 3in 20-year-old was an imposing physical presence in the middle of the park, was eager to get on the ball at every opportunity, worked tirelessly both in and out of possession and caused familiar opposition problems with his powerful forward runs. Sound similar to anyone?

Asked which footballers he had looked up to as a kid, he said: “My favourite was Gerrard. Just the way he was as a player, he inspired me to be that type of all-action midfielder, up and down the pitch, works his socks off and scores a lot of goals as well.

“I will play anywhere as long as I’m playing. I can play centre back and the holding role. But that is my best position, No8. I am a box-to-box midfielder. That is one of my qualities I would say, arriving into the box late, showing that I can score, creating different types of mayhem round the box. I like being in and around in scoring goals.”

Could Shaw’s talent for “mayhem” ensure he establishes himself in the Celtic first team when the 2020/21 campaign gets underway in earnest and helps them to reclaim the Premiership from a Rangers team managed by his all-time idol? That is certainly his intention.  

“That is obviously up to the gaffer,” he said. “I can only do my bit and work as hard as I can in training and in the games try and show my ability. Then it is up to the gaffer whether he thinks I’m fit to play or not.

“But you have got to back yourself as a footballer, you have got to believe in your own ability. I think that’s really important. It has got me where I am today. You have always got to back yourself, be confident, show your ability and see where it takes you.”

Shaw admitted the presence of Rangers manager Gerrard on the touchline at Ibrox will inspire him to perform at his very best if he is involved in the Celtic side in the first derby match of the new season on August 29.  

“Obviously, when we start the season we just want to win as much as we can and we’ll be trying to do that definitely,” he said.

Gerrard’s finest hour as a player came in the Champions League final in Istanbul in 2005 when he helped Liverpool to come from 3-0 down against a star-studded AC Milan team and win on penalties.

The chance to be involved in that tournament was a big factor in Shaw deciding to move to Glasgow and he conceded he would love to play in the first leg of the second qualifying round against Midtjylland of Denmark at Parkhead on Tuesday week.

“Coming to Celtic you have that European stage and that is everything you dream of as a footballer to be honest,” he said. “Playing in those types of games in that atmosphere. Hopefully I can be a part of it. I am looking forward to it.”

Shaw, who established himself as a regular starter at Wednesday last season and was heavily involved in their ultimately ill-fated bid to avoid relegation from the Championship, was brought in to Celtic before Postecoglou was appointed manager.

However, he has enjoyed working with the Greek-Australian coach in the training sessions that he has taken part in so far at Lennoxtown and Dragon Park and is confident that he can develop and progress as a player under his watchful eye.

“Ange is a good manager,” he said. “He is trying to get his philosophies and his style across to us. It is quick attacking football, always looking forward. On the flipside of that, when you give the ball away he wants everyone to press quick. It is positive football. When I give the ball away I do like to press so, yeah, it suits me.

“I have got great respect for him. You can see he is a good man manager. I am sure he can help develop me, help all the team, help all the different players. I am just really happy to be working with him.”

Shaw, who was denied a stonewall penalty in Newport after being barged over by former Rangers midfielder Josh Windass in the Wednesday area, confessed it had felt strange making his bow for Celtic against his old team mates. 

“It was weird to see so many familiar faces,” he said. “They’re a good team. Obviously Baz (Barry Bannan) is an unbelievable player. You can’t get near him sometimes. I have learned a lot off him, he has helped me in my career when I was at Wednesday. He is just a really good football player.

“Josh was talking to me about the penalty afterwards. He was saying it was never a foul, saying I was too slow. But he knew it was a penalty. It was a bit of banter.

“But I have to focus on ourselves now I’m at Celtic. I am focusing on how we play every game and not worrying about the opposition. It was good to get out on the pitch, get minutes in my legs and hopefully show people what I can do and show to the gaffer my ability. I am enjoying every moment.”