McManus and Caldwell remain very much the first-choice pairing for the Scottish champions but manager Gordon Strachan signed Loovens this summer as part of his bid to increase competition for places at Parkhead.

The Dutch defender, 24, has started just three games for his new club and last night found himself playing for a Celtic Select against Derry City.

But despite enjoying regular first-team football before his £2.5million move from Cardiff, Loovens has no problem being told to fight for his place.

"Mick (McManus) and Gary are top players and it won't be easy to break up that partnership," said Loovens, who snubbed a move to Rangers to join their arch-rivals.

"But I've signed for four years at Celtic, that's a long time.

"The manager has been good with me, and I know what I have to do."

Loovens has no regrets about his summer switch, saying in Celtic View: "I think the games I've played so far have been okay.

"Football-wise, I'm satisfied. Things are going well and I'm settling in more every week.

"Obviously, I want to play more games. But I'm certain I made the right decision to come here.

"I'm the new guy and the boys in the team have been doing well. I just need to wait for my chance, and hopefully it will come.

"This is what happens at a big club. There is real competition for those two places. And, while we all get on well, we all have the same aim.

"It can only be good for the club, though."

Loovens insists he welcomes the pressure of being at a club who are expected to win every Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League game they play.

"The standard of the SPL is what I expected," he said.

"The expectation is always there. But that's not a problem. It's something you have to cope with because we're expected to win every game.

"I relish that sort of pressure, though. I came to Celtic to win things, to progress my career, and that's what I'm doing."