Paulo Bernardo had 30 million reasons to feel inspired at Celtic Park.

The Portuguese midfielder has already been viewed as the heir apparent to departed star Matt O'Riley. Danish internationalist O'Riley clinched a Scottish record transfer fee totalling £30 million after add-ons to English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion during the window.

Sadly O'Riley's debut for the Seagulls was cut short after just seven minutes when he was the victim of a brutal agricultural challenge by Crawley Town midfielder Jay Williams. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler described the tackle as "ridiculous" after the 4-0 win which will see O'Riley requiring surgery and a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

However, Bernardo revealed that there was no bigger role model for him at Celtic than O'Riley who was responsible for 37 goal contributions - 19 goals and 18 assists - during last season's Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double-winning campaign.

Those are the boots that Bernardo is being asked to fill but the 22-year-old is ready to step up to the plate for Brendan Rodgers's side and reach similar levels both at home and abroad and is ready to thrive with that extra responsibility being placed on his shoulders.

With the arrival of club record £11 million signing Arne Engels from Augsburg and £1 million signing Luke McCowan from Dundee arriving in the summer transfer window there is stiff and fierce competition for the midfield berths. Bernardo did his chances of cementing a regular slot in Rodgers's starting XI moving forward no harm at all with a highly impressive 'second debut' during last weekend's 3-0 league victory over St Mirren in Paisley.

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Bernardo said: "Yeah, Matt O'Riley was an example for me. He was very good last season. He's a bit of an inspiration too because I think he was the best player for Celtic last season and the numbers show that. He was always doing his job. He's an example for me.

“What happened to Matt was very bad for him. I hope that he gets better soon and can show his magic there again. It is not easy for him now, but he has a strong mentality and I think he will do very well in England.

“I think I already had responsibility. Now that Matt has gone to Brighton, his place in the side is available. It is a position I can play in but there are others who can play there too. The squad is working very well and we have to compete with each other to make the team better. The St Mirren match was just one game. I have to work hard every day and play well in all the games I have a chance to play.

"I think we have a very good squad. Matt was a very good player for us last season and as a result, he won the awards. I think about us as a team together because when the team is together, we are stronger. I think we are strong enough to compete in every game. I work hard every day so I need to keep doing it. I will try my best to succeed."

(Image: Rob Casey)

Next up for Celtic is the small matter of a joust with city rivals Rangers. It's the game where Bernardo really announced himself to the Celtic supporters and manager last season. Bernardo smashed home a superb half-volleyed howitzer which oozed technique and class for the opening goal during a 2-1 win at Parkhead last December. The strike was so good that it even grabbed the media spotlight back home in Portugal.

Bernardo is well aware that hero status awaits those players who can perform in the white-hot heat of a Glasgow derby. He's made a habit of making his mark against Rangers as he also supplied a killer slide rule pass for Adam Idah to score in the 3-3 draw at Ibrox in April. It was his run and shot that deceived Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland which Idah profited from to bundle home the winner in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden Park in May.

Bernardo said: "The derby is a very good game, the best we have here, so I am very happy to get the chance to play in them. “I have some good memories already of the games against Rangers. My goal was great. It was my first game against Rangers, and I know how big the game is. So I was very happy at the moment, even more with the win.

"I got messages from back home after the goal! People talked about that one, now I have to make them talk about the next one because every goal against Rangers is special."

Whilst the form book suggests that Celtic will triumph again, especially with no Rangers fans permitted inside the ground, Bernardo is refusing to take anything for granted even though Rodgers's side could open up a significant five-point gap at this early juncture of the campaign and post what many believe would be a 'statement win'. He said: "Although I have great memories of the fixture, this is a different match. It is another season and we need to do it again.

"Of course, Rangers is a big club here in Scotland, but we are still playing for three points. "So, we have to approach every game the same way. It can be Rangers, it can be Hearts, it can be Hibernian, they are all worth three points. At the same time, we know that in this one we will play against a very good opponent.

"If we don't win the other games, these points will mean nothing for us. We need to have consistency during the season. If we win against Rangers on Sunday then we will move further ahead of them. But remember, Aberdeen have had a good start too. There are not only two teams in the league."

Celtic's midfield triumvirate of skipper Callum McGregor, Reo Hatate and up until now O'Riley have dominated the fixture in recent years. Last weekend Bernardo slipped back into Celtic's first-team fold seamlessly and winning the battle in engine room could be where the game is won and lost in Glasgow's east end today.

Bernardo said: "I think every aspect of the team can win the game. If we dominate in the midfield but we don't score goals, we'll get nothing.

"Everyone has to do their job and play for the team. Then we'll be that little bit closer to winning the game. I think we play as a team. We don't play just as an individual or just a midfield. If we do our job we are close to winning, but the other guys have to do their job too."

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(Image: Rob Casey)

Victory against the other half of the city would cap off a perfect spell for Celtic in a week when Bernardo and co. found out their opponents in the inaugural Champions League league phase.

An away trip to face last season's Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund, a tie against Europa League winners Atalanta as well as a Battle of Britain against Aston Villa are just some of the more favourable matches on offer.

Bernardo like many of a Celtic persuasion is daring to dream that the club can achieve something special on the greatest club stage of them all after what many have deemed a more favourable draw. He said: "The Champions League is always amazing and we have the chance to compete with the best teams in Europe. So we are very excited.

"We will take it game by game. But we want to go as far as we can and we will compete with every team and try our best. I think just to see Celtic in the Champions League is the best that can be there for me. It will be an amazing experience and there will be some more amazing nights.

"I think the Champions League is always difficult because we are playing against the best teams in their country. We can't see things that way, that we had a lucky or unlucky draw. We will try our best to win every game but we know it's the best competition ever. It's not that easy and we will not have easy games at home or away.

"I think we have to believe that we can make our mark in Europe. If not, we will not do anything there. We have to dream."

Bernardo like compatriot Jota fell in love with Celtic after his wonderful loan spell last season. He's been in dreamland ever since.

If he manages to bag another screamer against Rangers today then he will probably feel right at home because he will have turned Celtic Park into his own personal Stadium of Light again... as well as cementing his burgeoning reputation as O'Riley's replacement in the process.