“I like to move the ball, dribble it, not play it long,” Dublin Teenager Izzy Atkinson prepares for her Celtic debut | OneFootball

Izzy Atkinson signed for Celtic at the start of last month but with the Women’s game in Scotland suspended due to the Government restrictions due to the pandemic, she’s had to play the waiting game before she gets the chance to pull on the Hoops to make he debut. That though should not be too far away as the SWPL comes out of clod storage at the start of next month as Celtic resumes the three-way title race with Glasgow City and theRangers.

The 19-year-old Dubliner has been speaking to Colette Carr at the official Celtic FC Women’s website about settling in at Celtic now that training has resumed.

Izzy joined Celtic from Women’s National League side Shelbourne at the start of February but has had just three days training with her new teammates due to the women’s game being among the leagues affected by the Scottish Government’s restrictions. She certainly seems pleased to have at last started to prepare for a game with her new teammates.

“I’m just absolutely buzzing to get training. I flew over on the Friday and started training on the Sunday so it was a quick turnover, but since I’ve started training I feel a lot more relaxed and settled in. I’ve been getting to know the girls and been loving training since,” Atkinson stated.

“I like to just get going with things straight away, and when I found out we were starting I only had two days, so it was a lot, but I was glad that I could get started straight away, so the quick turnaround was good. It also meant I settled in a lot better too.

“I feel like I’ve known the girls for weeks already and I’ve only known them three days. Everyone’s so lovely and friendly, and having the other new girls is nice in that I’m not the only newbie.

“Fran (Alonso) was in touch and was very friendly and didn’t put any pressure or anything on me, but he was talking about the standard and style of play, and it really suits me because I like to move the ball, dribble it, not play it long. So when Fran spoke about how we play, it’s exactly how I’ve always wanted to .

“My dad said it would really suit me, so I obviously wanted to come. I have very high hopes for Celtic; I don’t see why we can’t get Champions League so I’m feeling really positive and hope I can help the girls out,” Izzy added.

She is the latest player to move from Shelbourne to Celtic. Atkinson follows on from her Republic of Ireland teammate teammate Keeva Keenan making the same move. “I know Keeva as well and I’m staying with the other girls which has been great.

“It’s good to have someone from Dublin as well so it’s nice to have her – it’s good to have a friendly face I can go to if I need anything. She is quite mammy as well in helping me out and stuff, so I’m glad to have her,” the teenager Dubliner said.

Izzy, who made her senior debit for Ireland at 17, wants to retain her place in the IRLWNT team’s plans. “I obviously want to stay in the senior Ireland squad, but this is obviously my first time as a professional in that kind of environment, so being in training everyday around everyone, being independent, living away from home and stuff that I’ve never done before is probably the bigger step I’ve to take.

“My goal within the next few years would obviously to get a starting place with Ireland, but if I just stay in the squad for now and play well here I’d be happy,” Atkinson added.