fighting fit boruc ready for celts return

Gregor Kyle
HAVING produced yet another outstanding personal performance in a major international tournament, Artur Boruc believes that he will return to Celtic fighting fit and ready for pre-season training.

The Polish No.1 first established himself as a national hero with his displays in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and succeeded in repeating the feat in this summer’s European Championships in Austria and Switzerland.

Boruc was Poland’s most outstanding player in the games against Germany, Croatia and Austria and, despite his side going out in the group stages, was voted among the players of the tournament.

It has been a busy summer for the 28-year-old, whose wife also gave birth to their first child during the championships and as he explained, he will return to Glasgow lean and hungry for the challenges of the new season.

“It has been such an intense summer I probably weigh less than I should, but I'm really feeling in good shape," he commented.

"Some people have joked about my fitness level in the past but I think a lot of that is to do with my style of play.

"I like to have a laugh sometimes and maybe my style makes me look a little casual.

"But it's part of my game. I stay on my feet as long as possible and try to cover as much of the goal as I can. I wait for my opponent until the last second and normally it works well.

"Anyway,” he added, “as far as I'm concerned mental preparation is more important than physical preparation, particularly for a goalkeeper."

The personal accolades have continued to pour in in the wake of the championships and having had a star named after him following his World Cup displays in 2006, Boruc was this year named ‘Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ by Germany’s highly respected ‘Kicker’ magazine.

"These statistics only concern individuals,” he commented, “but it doesn't mean much if the team isn't successful too.

"Nobody will remember good individual displays if the team has not been successful.

"We play as a team and whatever happens, that's what matters most."