Player of the Month Matt O'Riley looking to keep improving as he targets Euros spot

Matt O’Riley says he is looking to keep on improving after an impressive start to the season as he is named Player of the Month.

After recording the most assists in the top flight last year, the Celtic midfielder has added goals to his game under Brendan Rodgers and has also been awarded a place in the recent Denmark squad.

He is currently top scorer in the Premiership this season with five goals in the first eight games and he is now aiming to keep getting better.

After his first taste of international football, despite being an unused sub in the win over San Marino, he is targeting a place at Euro 2024 next summer, but knows he will need to keep performing at Celtic for that to become a reality.

On being named SPFL Player of the Month for September he said: “Yeah it’s nice, I found out yesterday and I let my family and my girlfriend know so they are all quite proud but it’s not really about me at the end of the day, I’m just grateful to play here and be part of this team.

“Obviously playing in a good team helps you win individual accolades and I’m lucky enough to do that.

“I’m probably my best stuff since I’ve been here, it’s the best I’ve felt with all aspects of my game which is positive but it’s a continual process to just keep improving all the time and I feel like I am doing that.

“I’m in the box a bit more and probably taking a few more pops at goal as well. I’ve been encouraged to get myself in the box a bit more as well and naturally when you are in good positions there’s a higher chance that your are going to score more goals and that’s the case at the moment.”

After making six appearances for the Danish under-21s he got a late call up to the first team for the first time last week and it has whetted his appetite to play more at that level.

He said: “The call up was good, under quite random circumstances. I wasn’t expecting it, I was just sat on a balcony in Spain when I got the call and that was it.

“Obviously a proud moment for me, and my family too naturally. They all made the journey to the game, my mum, dad and my girlfriend so a good effort from them to come to San Marino even though I didn’t play and that just shows what a good support system I’ve got.

“I want to be at the Euros, don’t want to just be there I want to play at it as well if I can. But that only comes if I perform well here. So I’ll just do my best to be there.”

Celtic return to league action this weekend with a trip to Edinburgh on Sunday to take on Hearts at Tynecastle.