Celtic defender Darren O’Dea has admitted his desire to move away from the Parkhead club, but only if he fails to hold down a regular place in the starting line-up.

O’Dea, who scored the first goal in Sunday's Cup triumph against Rangers, will look elsewhere if he continues to be overlooked by Gordon Strachan and says he will use the close season to weigh up his options.

"I'd rather be playing football somewhere else than not playing at all,” said O’Dea. “I'd obviously have to assess things in the summer. "I've got the shirt at the moment and I'm lucky enough to have it so I'll be doing everything I can to keep it.

"If I was to play with Celtic week in, week out, I don't see any other club I'd rather be at. It's just a matter of playing regularly. I've put a few games together and hopefully I can stay in the team."

O’Dea’s performances have earned him a call up to The Republic of Ireland squad for the double-header against Bulgaria and Italy, and he reiterated the frustration he suffered at the start of the year.

He said: "At the time, I was desperate to get out of the club. I needed to play. As luck had it, I stayed and I'm delighted I did."