One slip will rob Barry of a jersey

Aug 24 2008 By Mark Guidi

BARRY ROBSON reckons the competition for places at Celtic is so fierce that he could be booted on to the side lines after one disappointing display.

The 29-year-old is fighting it out with Paul Hartley, Scott Brown, Marc Crosas and Massimo Donati for a slot in central midfield.

And Robson knows he can't afford to take his foot off the gas if he wants to become a Hoops regular.

The £1million signing from Dundee United said: "We have so many good players but that's the way it should be at a club the size of Celtic.

"I prefer to play in central midfield and lots of us are trying to get a game in there.

"Paul Hartley is consistent, Marc Crosas has impressed me while Scott Brown has been outstanding after going through a hard time last term.

"Massimo Donati has also been looking good in training.

"So we all know one bad game could put us out of the team.

"But there is no malice from any of us. We want to see each other doing well and are right behind the guys selected by the manager."

Celtic will discover their Champions League opponents this week but Robson doesn't care which sides they draw.

He said: "They will all be difficult and we can focus on it once we know the draw.

"We made the last 16 in the past two seasons but it will be difficult to achieve that again because of other clubs' spending power.

"Even teams not in the Champions League, such as Fulham, can spend £12million on one player. It shows the level those kind of clubs are at in the transfer market."