The former Stuttgart defender joined the Hoops from Sevilla in January amid one of the wettest recent winters in Scotland.

The weather has added to a fixture backlog, with Celtic facing Dundee United at Parkhead tomorrow ahead of a rearranged trip to Motherwell on Saturday.

But the surfaces in the matches that have gone ahead have taken Hinkel aback and he could get a further shock on Saturday at Fir Park, where a waterlogged pitch forced the postponement of tonight's clash between Gretna and St Mirren.

However, the right-back insists he is coming to terms with the switch from sunny Spain to soaking Scotland.

"At the beginning, it was a change for me because in Spain the pitches are better and all the teams want to play football," the German said.

"But here sometimes it's not possible to play football because the pitches are not so good.

"I had to get used to this style of football but now I think it's not a problem.

"It is a big change from Spain to Scotland but it is similar to the weather in Germany."

The 25-year-old also claims he had no problem adapting to the demands on an Old Firm player, which have caught out some foreign imports, and have been intensified this year by the revival of Rangers.

Celtic sit four points behind their neighbours in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League ahead of tomorrow night's United game at Parkhead, while the prospect of an Old Firm Scottish Cup final remains.

But Hinkel said: "I don't feel so much pressure here at all. We had it in Spain, we had it in Germany, it's normal.

"You have to win your games, it is the only thing that counts. You have to win, it's the life here.

"Especially here in Celtic, you are always the favourite and you have to win.

"It's always a big battle between Celtic and Rangers. I think it will be a hard battle for the last few weeks between the two teams.

"But we will give our best until the last day, we will fight for the chance to win two titles."

With three Old Firm matches still to be played before the end of the SPL season, Hinkel is well aware of their importance.

But he is determined to ensure the derbies are meaningful by picking up maximum points against United and at Motherwell on Saturday.

"I think these are the most important games this year," said the Germany international of the Old Firm games.

"After these games, we will know what's happening. It's like a final.

"But I think the best thing to do is go from game to game and be in a good position for the games against Rangers.

"To keep pressure on Rangers, we have to win the next games and can't show them weakness. We have to be strong."