Nat Phillips gutted at Rangers debut miss but Celtic star reveals why watching derby from press room was for the best

The Liverpool loanee was speaking as his side prepare to face Tony Docherty's Dundee this weekend.

New Celtic arrival Nat Phillips says he's disappointed he didn't get to make his debut against Rangers or even watch it from the Ibrox stands. But he admits the latter might not have been "fun" considering the lack of Celtic fans in attendance.

Champions League football awaits Phillips next week against Feyenoord but first up it is a return to Premiership business when new boys Dundee travel to Parkhead this Saturday. And the 26-year-old is chomping at the bit to get down to work in his new surroundings after the 1-0 win over Rangers came too early for the towering defender.

Speaking ahead of the the weekend clash with Dundee, Celtic's news defensive recruit said of the 1-0 win over Rangers: "I had to watch it from inside so I didn't get to experience it for myself. But It's obviously got a huge reputation. The lads did well to get a result. Obviously I wanted to be in and around the dressing room. Taking it in in the media room wasn't as fun as it might have been in the stands...but at the same time, it might not have been fun as the only Celtic person in the stand!

"But I enjoyed it. It was good to be there supporting the lads, it was obviously a tense game to watch."

And Phillips was on hand to deliver exciting news about Scotland superstar in the making Ben Boak. The 17-year-old thrilled in the 1-0 defeat for Scotland's U21 against their Spanish counterparts and then Jurgen Klopp moved to include him Liverpool's Europa League squad. And Phillips is utter convinced our national team possess a talent to cherish.

He added: “Plenty of people have got every reason to be excited about him. “He’s electric. Fearless is the way I’d describe him - he’s obviously got bags of ability as well”.