2019 Nigeria U23 invitee Osaze Urhoghide has revealed his admiration for world-class Liverpool center-back Virgil Van Dijk and is aiming to follow in the footsteps of the Netherlands international.

Born in the Netherlands, the former Sheffield Wednesday starlet is eligible to represent the national teams of Netherlands, Nigeria and England.

Van Dijk signed for Celtic at the age of 21, same age as Urhoghide, before moving to the Premier League in 2015, first starring at Southampton before a big money transfer to Liverpool.

Urhoghide was on the radar of several clubs in the English top-flight before opting for Celtic, with whom he signed a four-year deal.

In quotes relayed by Daily Record, the Dutch-Anglo-Nigerian defender said : "He (Van Dijk) is just a solid centre back.

"He was at Celtic as well and he is Dutch like I am. I have seen the way he has progressed and the way he behaves and I hope I can emulate that and get to where he is.

"You want to play at the highest level.

"If I have the opportunity to do that, it is very hard to turn down. We have a good squad here, one that can compete in the Champions League and win those games.

"I knew about Celtic being so dominant (growing up). But I didn’t realise how much the fans love the club, how much passion they have got the club, until I got here.

"I spoke to Barry Bannan. He grew up with Scottish football."

Urhoghide is in line to make his unofficial debut for Celtic when they face his former club Sheffield Wednesday in a pre-season friendly on Wednesday afternoon.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel