Beram Kayal became an instant fans’ favourite after a brilliant Celtic debut but insists it has never been his aim to stand out from the crowd.

The Israeli midfielder, signed in the summer from Maccabi Haifa, was Celtic’s most influential performer in Thursday’s 2-0 Europa League home win over Utrecht meaning the Parkhead faithful took an instant liking to him.

He is poised to make his Scottish Premier League debut for Celtic against St Mirren on Sunday, but, while the plaudits are already coming Kayal’s way, he is keen to avoid them for now.

He said: “I’m very happy, but the only reason for that is because we won the game against Utrecht. I like to work for the team.

“I feel really good here and the crowd were good towards me. I got an assist for one of the goals, but that’s not important, it’s about working for the team. If you set up a goal or score one, it’s just a bonus.

“All through my career, I have trained hard and tried to work more at my game to improve. The supporters weren’t just cheering me, they were supporting everyone. We are only eleven, but they are the 12th man. It was nice to hear their backing for the whole side.

“I want to be successful, of course, but the work I do is for the team and for the result. It doesn’t matter that I play well, just that we win.

“I already feel very comfortable playing with this team. The league is different to Israel so I know I have to play hard and try hard.”

Kayal may be reluctant to take the acclaim, but his manager, Neil Lennon, was only too keen to applaud what he claimed was one of the best Celtic debuts he has ever clapped eyes on.

Lennon has a number of options in midfield after his summer recruitment drive, but Kayal, much more than just the holding midfielder he was portrayed on arrival, could yet emerge as one of the first names on his team-sheet after making an instant impression.

Lennon said: “Beram started the game very well. His tackling, his decisiveness, his quality on the ball and ability to get it to the strikers’ feet quickly and to try and take control of the game for us.

“We knew he had that in his game, it was whether he could replicate that in a match situation, but under pressure he showed all of those qualities on Thursday night. It was a very good debut, one of the better ones I’ve seen for a while.”

Meanwhile, new Saints boss Danny Lennon insists he will not feel intimidated by Sunday’s visit to Parkhead and has urged his players to adopt the same approach to the game.

“It’s certainly the most high-profile game so far to be perfectly honest,” he said.

“But the challenge of the back-to-back promotions and the play-offs [with Cowdenbeath] were big games, they were make or break in terms of the direction you are going to go.

“We will certainly enjoy the occasion, it’s a wonderful arena, and there’s not going to be any pressure. Nobody expects us to go there and do anything.

“We will go there and be committed, the same as we were last week, we will be organised and we will have the same fighting spirit.

“The message I’m putting out to the players is – take away that wonderful arena and it’s just a lovely grass football pitch with two sets of goals and two sets of players, the same as any other week.”

Former Celtic striker Andy Walker stands by his criticism of Neil Lennon, despite coming under retaliatory fire from the Hoops’ boss.

Walker, now a pundit, claimed Celtic’s Champions League campaign “ended with a whimper” as they lost 4-2 on aggregate to Braga in the third qualifying round and he also criticised Lennon’s transfer record.

The Parkhead boss reacted angrily, claiming Walker had been “economical with the truth” about transfers in to Celtic and Lennon used various statistics to suggest the 2-1 second-leg win over Braga at Parkhead on Wednesday was merited.

However Walker, in his Sunday Mail column, refused to back down and added further criticism of the Celtic board.

He said: “If Neil Lennon takes the time to snap back at all the criticism of Celtic this season, he’s in for a torrid campaign.

“I stand by all the comments that annoyed the Hoops boss after the Euro defeat by Braga.

“Any team that is 4-0 down on aggregate with just over 30 minutes left of the tie has gone out with a whimper.

“If Neil wants to deal in stats, there wasn’t a single Celtic shot on target in the first half.

“Unfortunately Neil missed the point I was trying to make about the club’s signing policy.

“Recruiting players from Mexico, Korea and Israel to tap into the potential commercial spin-offs doesn’t give him the priority when it comes to signings.”

“As for the criticism of Celtic skipper Scott Brown” Walker continued, “in my book, he has been a huge disappointment since signing.

“Brown hasn’t influenced enough big games to justify his £4.5million fee or reputation.

“Criticism is part of football, especially at Celtic, and my general point was about boardroom interference on too many football issues at Parkhead.

“That was summed up by the club’s ridiculous pursuit of Finland coach Stuart Baxter.

“Here is a man who was linked with every job in Scotland for more than a decade and eventually became a joke figure.

“Yet somehow the Parkhead board thought it would be a good idea to bring him in as a part-time adviser to Lennon.

“The Hoops boss was made to look foolish by the club when he announced Baxter would be a part-time consultant.

“Just 24 hours later the furious Finnish FA denied any agreement was in place and Celtic were forced to change their story.”

West Ham have announced Portsmouth defender Tal Ben Haim will join the London club on loan until January.

The 28-year-old, who has been reunited with former Pompey manager Avram Grant, is the Hammers’ fourth signing of the summer.

Ben Haim joins German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, Mexican winger Pablo Barrera and French forward Frederic Piquionne in moving to Upton Park.

West Ham have also confirmed that their summer spending is not over.

The club hope to complete the signing of a “young international who represented their country to distinction at the World Cup” this week.

Ben Haim has played under Grant for Chelsea, Portsmouth and at international level with Israel, for whom he has won over 50 caps.

The Hammers’ announcement said: “West Ham United are delighted to announce the loan signing of Israel defender Tal Ben Haim and can confirm the club are close to securing another international player.

“Ben Haim is the fourth new face in Avram Grant’s squad in what has been a busy summer of arrivals. He is an experienced centre-back with a strong character. He can play across the back four and will provide top-level competition for the club’s existing defenders.

“With the ink barely dry on Ben Haim’s contract, club officials stepped up their bid to secure a fifth signing this close-season and hope to have the deal finalised within the next 72 hours.

“The potential recruit is a young international, who represented his country to distinction at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”

Ben Haim will hope to be a part of the starting line-up for West Ham’s Premier League opener against Aston Villa on Saturday 14th August.

Full Time Result betting has West Ham at 5.50 to get the away win, with Aston Villa 1.66 and the draw 3.60.

West Ham are currently 5.00 to be relegated from the Barclays Premier League 2010/11.

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West Ham have signed Portsmouth defender Tal Ben Haim on loan until January and hope to follow the capture with that of a young World Cup star.

Ben Haim, who has been reunited with former Pompey manager Avram Grant, is the Hammers’ fourth summer signing.

The 28-year-old joins German midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, Mexican winger Pablo Barrera and French forward Frederic Piquionne in moving to Upton Park.

West Ham have promised their summer spending is not over and hope to complete the signing of a “young international who represented their country to distinction at the World Cup” this week.

Ben-Haim has played under Grant for Chelsea, Portsmouth and at international level with Israel, for whom he has won over 50 caps.

The Hammers’ announcement said: “West Ham United are delighted to announce the loan signing of Israel defender Tal Ben Haim and can confirm the club are close to securing another international player.

“Ben Haim is the fourth new face in Avram Grant’s squad in what has been a busy summer of arrivals. He is an experienced centre-back with a strong character. He can play across the back four and will provide top-level competition for the club’s existing defenders.

“With the ink barely dry on Ben Haim’s contract, club officials stepped up their bid to secure a fifth signing this close-season and hope to have the deal finalised within the next 72 hours.

“The potential recruit is a young international, who represented his country to distinction at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”

Ben Haim had been expected to make a permanent move to Upton Park but Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill hinted he could not agree terms.

He said in The News before the transfer was confirmed: “I feel sorry for Tal. One minute he’s here and the next he’s not.

“I think he’s on his way to West Ham and he will go there.

“There’s a lot of to-ing and fro-ing going on with his terms, though.”

Cotterill also confirmed that goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown and former Burnley defender Stephen Jordan have been offered contracts at Fratton Park following successful trial periods.

“Jamie and Stephen have both been made offers now, so it’s with them, really,” said Cotterill.

Celtic have announced the signing of Israel international midfielder Biram Kayal from Maccabi Haifa, subject to final paperwork.

The 22-year-old has signed a four-year contract after completing his move on Thursday.

Kayal will be unveiled at the club’s Lennoxtown training ground as Celtic look to lift the gloom following their 3-0 Champions League defeat by Sporting Braga.

Kayal, who has won 13 caps for Israel, becomes Neil Lennon’s seventh summer signing.

He follows Cha Du-Ri, Charlie Mulgrew, Joe Ledley and Efrain Juarez – who all played in the defeat in Portugal – as well as strikers Daryl Murphy and Gary Hooper.