Bernardo eager to emulate success of friend Jota

Paulo Bernando is taking inspiration from his friend Jota as he looks to make a success of his Celtic loan spell.

The Benfica midfielder made his first start in Saturday’s stalemate with Hibs after playing the bulk of the Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid following Reo Hatate’s injury.

With the Japan midfielder likely to missing for the next two months, Bernardo has a chance to make his mark.

The 21-year-old watched on as Jota became a Celtic fans' favourite, firstly on loan from Benfica and then after making a permanent deal to Glasgow before sealing a big-money move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.

Speaking before Wednesday's Premiership encounter with St Mirren, the Portugal Under-21 international said: "I am working hard to make my impact. Jota made his impact and I want to make my impact.

"We are friends, I speak to him a lot, but now I have to make my own history and hopefully it's good like him.

"He told me Glasgow was good and that Celtic is a really big club like we are used to in Benfica. He told me that it's not too different. The big difference is the weather. But I am really enjoying Glasgow like Jota said I would.

"I am feeling confident. I like the way the coach thinks and plays the game and I feel comfortable with the tactics."

Bernardo is enjoying the relentless nature of Scottish football.

"It's a bit different to Portugal, but I really like it here and Celtic really support me," he added. "The game here is more intense. It never stops.

"In Portugal, we lose a little bit of the time of the game because players go down on the floor and the referee stops the game. It's a little bit boring compared to here. That's the biggest difference."