Craig Bellamy has written off the likelihood of ‘keeping himself in check’ at Ibrox on Sunday, claiming that it was falling into that particular trap which proved his undoing on an embarrassing derby debut.
Bellamy was mainly anonymous when Celtic last met their old enemy, missing an brilliant early opportunity to score before diminishing somewhat as Rangers picked up a 2-0 victory.
It turned out to be a excruciating introduction for the on-loan striker from Newcastle United and Bellamy has assured fans that he will not be curbing his natural passion and style of playing this time round.
Bellamy said: “I kept myself in check in my first Old Firm game, stayed away from it all – and look at the performance you got. So you won’t be getting that Sunday, no choice.
“I’ll be more involved, showing for the ball a lot more than I did in my first game, and there will be a different performance from me. I’m just going to play my own game and hopefully that’s enough on the day.
“My first Old Firm game didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but then I don’t think any of my debuts have gone to plan – I’ve always had a rocky start wherever I’ve went.
“But this could go a long way to us winning the league. If we win on Sunday, that will be us five points clear and however you look at it that’s a good position.”
Should Celtic win Sunday’s game, they will be five points clear of their Glasgow rivals, which should be enough to see them lift the title for a fourth time in five years under manager Martin O’Neill, however, apart from the possible significance in the title run-in, Bellamy agrees with many that the Old Firm derby is the derby in domestic football.
“It’s special, really special, and I’ve never been involved in anything like it,” he said of the Old Firm clash.
“I was fortunate enough to play for
“I can’t see another game in the world that’s got this much intensity. This game’s so big, it means so much to the two sets of fans, and to be involved is a great buzz.”
Bellamy, who has scored some special goals while in