Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s phone will no doubt be flooded with messages after his Celtic debut heroics, and he expects one former teammate to be amongst them.

A debut goal. First appearance. Job done. The list of plaudits will be endless, and he already has one name in mind: Andy Robertson.

Oxlade-Chamberlain spent years alongside the Scotland captain at Liverpool, and will be surprised if he hasn’t already got in touch.

He said (Celtic FC YouTube):

“If he hasn’t, I’ll be disappointed. I’ll be texting him to remind him. I need to look at the phone and see what’s happening. People might see that I am still alive and kicking! It’s good. It’s a good day.”

 

There is a bit of humour in that, but also something else.

Oxlade-Chamberlain knows the narrative around him. Injuries, setbacks, even questions over whether he could still influence games at a high level. His first contribution in Glasgow was a reminder that he can.

It was not about drifting through a cameo. It was about stepping up in a big moment and delivering.

He has already spoken about conversations with former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart before making the move north. Hart sold him on the club, on the standards, on the expectation; that was even before talks between the Hoops and the Ox began.

Robertson, a boyhood Celtic supporter and academy graduate, had been pushing him for updates during the process. Now he has given him something worth texting about.

The goal itself showed sharpness, and the finish was calm. For a player still building match fitness, that matters.

He will not be at full tilt yet. That much is obvious. But you could see the quality.

In tight areas, he wanted the ball. He looked forward. He tried to move things quickly. When the chance came, he did not snatch at it.

It is one appearance, nothing more. Celtic supporters have seen plenty of strong debuts over the years that did not always turn into long-term stories. Still, this was the best possible start.

A new signing scoring on debut buys time. It builds belief. It gives the crowd something to latch onto.

For Oxlade-Chamberlain, it also sends a message back down south. He is not here for a slow fade into the background.

He is alive and kicking, as he put it. And if Robertson has not already texted, he will be getting a reminder.