Caddis In No Booze Situation

Feb 10 2008 By Euan Mclean

PAUL CADDIS was the toast of Celtic after his dynamite debut was rewarded with a call up to the Scotland Under-21 squad.

But the rookie full-back won't be raising a glass following his cracking shows against Falkirk and Kilmarnock because he has never touched a drop of booze in his life.

Not many 19-year-olds in Glasgow can make the same claim but it's a conscious decision to give Paul the best chance of making the grade at a club where he's competing against big reputations - and bigger guys.

Standing just 5ft 7in, the slightly built youngster won't win many physical battles - but you can't outmuscle what you can't catch so Caddis is working hard on being fitter and faster than the rest.

He said: "There are sacrifices you have to make as a football player. I'm not big on nightlife and I've never touched a drink which I know is unusual in Scotland for a 19-year-old.

"But I'm dedicated because you only get one chance at this. I don't want to wreck my career by drinking or doing silly things.

"My friends are brilliant and not big drinkers so I don't feel peer pressure. If we win the title this year I'll celebrate with a Coke."

Paul's impressive debut off the bench against Falkirk a fortnight ago earned his first start in last weekend's Scottish Cup 5-1 win over Killie where he set up Scott McDonald's opener.

So he believes size should be no barrier to succeed in a position he fell into by accident. And one look at gaffer Gordon Strachan and his coach and mentor Danny McGrain gives him even more belief.

Caddis said: "The gaffer likes attacking full-backs. I came to the club as a winger but was moved into defence by Tommy Burns to build me up and make me stronger.

"I've been working in the gym but I'm not naturally big so working on crossing and fitness will hopefully make up for what I lack.

"The issue of size has never bothered me. Jackie McNamara isn't massive nor was Danny McGrain so there's no reason why I can't be successful there too.

"If you aren't naturally big the other aspects of your game have to be better than everybody else's."

While he's delighted with the reaction to his first-team breakthrough Caddis knows it might not last long with Andreas Hinkel on his way back to fitness.

However, as long as he keeps getting chances - and he's hoping for another today at Pittodrie today - he will be happy to stay.

Caddis said: "You need to be patient but if I was 20 or 21 and not playing I'd have to look at it.

"I'll see how things are in a year.

I don't know if the gaffer will stick with me but people always say if you get your chance you must take it and I thought I did that.

"My phone has been red hot with people congratulating me for the Killie game. Now I must keep going to give the gaffer a problem."