Vakoun Issouf Bayo hopes to help friend Eboue Kouassi kick-start Celtic career

Vakoun Issouf Bayo has pledged to try to help his friend and fellow Ivorian Eboue Kouassi kick-start his Celtic career.

The Hoops paid £2.8-million for Kouassi this time two years ago, but stiff competition for the midfield spots has seen him restricted to just a dozen appearances.

That’s a situation his contemporary, Bayo, who has just been recruited from Slovakian football, aims to help him rectify.

“I have actually watched a lot more of Celtic since Eboue signed because we are really good friends,” said the 22-year-old.

“Eboue is a good player. You don’t sign for Celtic if you are not a good player.

“Injury is part of our lives as footballers, it is the big enemy of any professional.

“You know it is part of your career, but Eboue is really strong in his head and I am convinced he is going to come back.

“If we can help each other, we will, because we are from the same country. There is a community feeling there.

“I have known him since we were in the Under-21 squad together. He was playing in Russia at that time.

“We used to spend quite a lot of time together before games. We became friends, not as kids, but a bit later.

“He actually encouraged me to sign here. Although he is not playing, we have had quite a lot of exchanges.

“I asked him about the team, the group and he said it was a really good group and encouraged me to come and play here.

“We spoke on the telephone, even though I was quite busy with my wedding and he was doing rehab for his knee.”

It is an aim which Brendan Rodgers is happy to encourage.

“Eboue has been unlucky with injury and also with the form of the captain, who has been brilliant for two years, but he can play here,” said the Celtic manager.

“That’s the reason such a young player cost a couple of million euros. He has a talent and in the Europa League games played well.

“I have seen him enough times to know he has the qualities. He’s like any player in that he needs regular games.

“He has really good ability and, hopefully, he can come back strongly from injury and show he has a big part to play.

“These kids are so hungry for success. To have the commitment to go to places where no people speak their language, but they want to learn and play football. I’m a big admirer of that.”

New Bhoy Bayo is determined his move will strengthen his claim with the Ivory Coast.

“I would hope that playing for a big club like Celtic is going to have a big impact on my international career,” he continued.

“But if you play for a big team and you don’t play well, your stats don’t hold up, then you are not going to play internationally.

“It’s up to me, that I work hard and play well. Maybe being at Celtic will help get me more regular starts for the national team, but I have to make it happen.”

The arrivals of Bayo, plus loan pair Timothy Mayo and Oliver Burke, has increased pressure for places in the forward area of the Celtic team.

Yet, while Scott Sinclair is one of the players who stands to potentially lose out, the Englishman does a good job of talking up the effect the new arrivals have had on the Hoops squad.

“It’s great for everyone to come in and it’s great competition to keep everyone on their toes,” he said.

“The manager has brought all these players in and it’s about producing on the weekend, that’s all you can do. If you’re not, I’m sure he will make changes.

“And we have already seen the new guys bring us different options.

“Ollie is big, strong, gets in behind. Tim is great with his touches, comes short and gets turned and is also very quick.

“But from a personal point of view I’m in a good place right now and want to keep improving and scoring.

“I can’t really put my finger on what the difference is but the main thing is the run of games and getting the confidence and form back.

“Now I’m in, so it’s up to me to keep performing and scoring.

“That’s the standard everyone expects of you and all I can do is keep going, keep playing well, and keep trying to build on my form, to keep going forward.”