COLBY'S CAPITAL PUNISHMENT LIFT

COLBY DONOVAN reckons his last painful Edinburgh experience has proved invaluable in helping him handle the relentless rigours of Celtic.

- Craig Swan

The teenager returns to the capital today for the first time since a chastening 3-1 loss to Hearts at Tynecastle which turned out to be the final game of Brendan Rodgers' second spell in charge.

Colby and fellow youngster Dane Murray were pitched into the starting lineup against the Premiership leaders and it was a miserable shift.

Far from being cowed by it, the 19-year-old says the Gorgie misery will help him advance his career.

He said: "It was a setback but, looking back, it was probably good that it happened.

"As a young player, it's not going to all be perfect. I had a good start to my season but there was always going to be a bump.

"I feel the experience at Tynecastle has made me a lot stronger and I am raring to go again.

"It's about getting as many minutes as I can to keep improving.

"I am a young player and the senior players are helping me, giving me as many pointers as they can, but I need to keep getting minutes."