Matthews on a mission for Hoops

Adam Matthews is looking to silence his teasing team-mates in the Celtic dressing room as soon as possible by breaking his scoring duck at the Parkhead club.

The 20-year-old former Cardiff right-back has yet to find the net since signing for the Hoops in the summer of 2011.

He was mostly recently denied his first goal in green and white by a fine save from Raith Rovers keeper David McGurn during the Hoops 4-1 Scottish Communities League Cup third-round win at Parkhead in midweek.

Ahead of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Motherwell at Fir Park tomorrow, where victory for Neil Lennon’s side could take them top of the table, Matthews said: “I am starting to think it is never going to come.

“But hopefully, if I keep hitting them as well as I did against Raith, one of them will go in and hopefully it will be quite soon because some of the boys are giving me a bit of hassle about it.

“This season I have had more opportunities to score which I am happy with.

“I am getting in the positions to have a chance so hopefully I can take one of them and then get a couple more.

“I can’t set a higher standard than one so that’s what I am looking for this season – and take it from there next season.”

Matthews is also looking to keep quiet the Scotland internationals at Celtic next month when Wales play against the Scots in their crucial World Cup qualifier in Cardiff.

The Welsh lost 2-0 at home to Belgium and 6-1 away to Serbia in their opening two qualifiers while Scotland drew against the Serbs and Macedonia at Hampden.

Winger James Forrest and skipper Scott Brown could both be playing against Matthews in a game where defeat for Scotland could effectively end their qualification hopes, which are already slim.

The Celtic defender smiled when alerted to that prospect.

“Obviously I want them (Scotland) to do well for Brownie and James but I am hoping Wales qualify before them.

“It is going to be an exciting game for both sets of fans and I am excited about it.

“I’m sure as it gets closer I will get a few comments from Brownie and James so there will be good banter in the dressing room.

“We are quietly confident we can give them a good game and hopefully get the win.

“We have a good team, we didn’t show it against Serbia, which was an unacceptable performance, but against Belgium with 10 men we showed what we can do and were unlucky in the end.”

Matthews is enjoying life at Parkhead so much he pledged to “definitely” sign a new contract for Celtic if and when the offer is put on the table.

Lennon revealed yesterday he had begun talks with the Welshman, who originally signed a four-year deal, as well as Victor Wanyama, Thomas Rogne, James Forrest, Charlie Mulgrew, and Gary Hooper.

Matthews said: “The club has been great to me and I really enjoy being here so if I am offered a new deal I will happily sign, definitely.

“The club is massive. Champions League is one of the main things, obviously, but the fans are brilliant and it is an honour to play in front of them every week so I am happy to stay.”

Matthews is looking forward to a tough test against the Steelmen, who suffered their first domestic defeat of the season in midweek when they were knocked out of the Scottish Communities League Cup third-round by Rangers at Ibrox.

He said: “They have had a great start to the season,” he said.

“We know from last year’s games that they will be really tough and in our faces so we have to go out with the right mindset and get the win.”