Matt O'Riley puts Celtic-mad gran's football IQ at top of the class as secret behind Glasgow success revealed

Matt O'Riley admits making Glasgow a home from home and having gran Lis watching his every move has been the secret behind his success at Celtic.

After a week where the Hoops midfielder celebrated his 23rd birthday by making his international debut for Denmark, there was a tribute to the family ties and support systems which continue to carry his career on an upward trajectory. A special mention was reserved for an 85-year-old student of the game and a grandmother who O'Riley insists would put more distinguished observers to shame by her attention to football's finer details.

Despite the playmaker's Danish bow ending in defeat to Northern Ireland, he dedicated his progress to the people around him including dad Dom and mum Gitta for their own personal sacrifices he'll never take for granted. He said: "My gran is pretty full on and she watches every game as well as the Celtic podcasts. She probably knows more about football than a lot of people to be fair to her.

"She's watched me since I was about eight-years-old at Fulham and before she moved back to Denmark. She's been around the football environment for a long time. It's good that she's able to access all of the games on television back in Denmark so she really enjoys that aspect of being able to watch her grandson on a regular basis.

"I've been really lucky with my support system from a really young age in terms of my mum and dad especially. They would drive me all over the place to every game. They have really been there for me and are still coming to all of my games.

"That's something I have been really lucky with. I don't take that for granted either but it is definitely allowing me to go on the pitch and play a lot more relaxed. There is less pressure on myself