SOCCEROO striker Scott McDonald has vowed to prove he was not a one-season wonder and is hungry to end any doubt about his credentials.
McDonald's 25 league goals in his first campaign at Parkhead were crucial as Celtic surged past Rangers in the final quarter of the season to land the SPL title for a third season in a row.
But the Australian, preparing for his country's World Cup qualifier against Qatar tomorrow, admits his second year as a Celtic player will be a different type of challenge.
The £700,000 signing exceeded most expectations, if not his own, last season by finishing as the SPL's top scorer, and a similar return will now be expected of him in 2008-09.
"All I can do is work hard, like I did this season and hopefully the rewards will come my way again," McDonald told the Australian federation's website, www.footballaustralia.com.au.
"Obviously it's a mindset as well; everyone thinks it's going to be harder the next season, but you need to get that out, start afresh and work hard and be as hungry as you were then and I certainly am hungry for more success on a personal note and my team also.
"There was hunger to go out there and do well, because going to the club, no-one expected me to be a regular starter or to score as many goals as I did. So from the start I had a point to prove.
"Probably coming to the start of the second season, I am going to have even more of a point to prove that it was not just a one-off season that I had.
"You've got to go out there and do it again and if I can do that, it could be the making of me. Hopefully that is the case and there are many more good times to come."
McDonald, 24, arrived at Celtic from Motherwell with a growing reputation which he enhanced in a remarkable season, and he has since been linked with a move to Barclays Premier League clubs.
His focus is on achieving success with Celtic though, and matching, if not surpassing, his achievements so far is the target for the next 12 months.
"It's hard to believe how well it went, but I've now got to look forward to next season," McDonald said.
"It's probably going to be doubly hard, but it's something I am going to look forward to and hopefully we can go out there and win another championship and a few more trophies next season."
But the Australian, preparing for his country's World Cup qualifier against Qatar tomorrow, admits his second year as a Celtic player will be a different type of challenge.
The £700,000 signing exceeded most expectations, if not his own, last season by finishing as the SPL's top scorer, and a similar return will now be expected of him in 2008-09.
"All I can do is work hard, like I did this season and hopefully the rewards will come my way again," McDonald told the Australian federation's website, www.footballaustralia.com.au.
"Obviously it's a mindset as well; everyone thinks it's going to be harder the next season, but you need to get that out, start afresh and work hard and be as hungry as you were then and I certainly am hungry for more success on a personal note and my team also.
"There was hunger to go out there and do well, because going to the club, no-one expected me to be a regular starter or to score as many goals as I did. So from the start I had a point to prove.
"Probably coming to the start of the second season, I am going to have even more of a point to prove that it was not just a one-off season that I had.
"You've got to go out there and do it again and if I can do that, it could be the making of me. Hopefully that is the case and there are many more good times to come."
McDonald, 24, arrived at Celtic from Motherwell with a growing reputation which he enhanced in a remarkable season, and he has since been linked with a move to Barclays Premier League clubs.
His focus is on achieving success with Celtic though, and matching, if not surpassing, his achievements so far is the target for the next 12 months.
"It's hard to believe how well it went, but I've now got to look forward to next season," McDonald said.
"It's probably going to be doubly hard, but it's something I am going to look forward to and hopefully we can go out there and win another championship and a few more trophies next season."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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