His plan is to get into the team, Sly git..
Georgios Samaras denies he has changed to suit Neil Lennon - and insists he is back in the plans simply because the gaffer has actually worked out what he offers to Celtic.
The striker smashed a midweek hat-trick in the Co-operative Insurance Cup romp over Inverness to draw wholesome praise from his manager.
Lennon's views seem far removed from his spell as caretaker at the end of last season when Samaras was bombed from the picture. In the wake of the Scottish Cup debacle against Ross County, the player was exiled from the line-up.
Lennon never said as much but Samaras' absence suggested he was pinpointed as a fall-guy for the Hampden shambles.
In the summer, the Greek World Cup star looked set to be leaving Glasgow but Samaras insists the thought never entered his head.
Instead of sulking, he returned for pre-season in the USA to prove to he was a capable asset.
Lennon reckons Samaras has changed people's perceptions of him and may include himself on that list but the striker believes it was merely a matter of the manager getting a longer and closer insight into his workings and style.
He said: "When you are in charge of a team for only two months maybe you don't know the players really well.
"You need time to learn exactly what they can do. It's seeing them every day in training; how they react and what is their character.
"The gaffer now knows who I am and what exactly I can do.
"I don't feel different. I am the same player, the same character and nothing has changed.
"Lenny never came to me and said I could leave or I was on the blacklist. I was happy with that."
Samaras could have taken the hump with his omission under Lennon as temporary boss.
In the lead-up to a World Cup, his lack of action was a concern but the hitman stayed strong to his beliefs and refused to walk away.
Samaras said: "Last season was really strange. I believe I was doing well until January.
"I was scoring goals but suddenly Mr Mowbray brought two or three strikers to the club and there was no space for me.
"I wasn't playing much football and it wasn't my fault.
"But when the season finished I said to Mr Lawwell that I wanted all doors to be closed.
"I knew I had to focus on the World Cup but I really didn't care which clubs came for me because my doors were closed.
"That was my plan and I never had thoughts of leaving. Every thought I had was positive and I stayed because I believe in myself and I believe in what I can do.
"From the moment you play at a club such as Celtic, where you have to win titles every year, you know it is the place to be.
"In football, you can take the easy way but that is not me.
"I don't give up. When a mistake happens, I try to prove I am good enough to be here.
"I know the club and the whole community here in Glasgow.
"When you are away from your country it is important to f eel good in the city where you live and I do."
Samaras looked at ease against Inverness with his treble but there remains a doubt about his place in Lennon's pecking order.
Having paid more than £4million for the attacking trio of Anthony Stokes, Daryl Murphy and Gary Hooper, Lennon has to make big calls and the Greek faces a fight.
On Wednesday, he operated in a wider area of midfield and his clever ability to time out-to-in runs from deep mesmerised Inverness.
But Samaras admits he cannot be trusted to play the position against top-level opposition and needs to be used up front.
It leaves Lennon a dilemma as the player said: "My position is striker. If I play alone up front, with a striker or just behind a striker, I am still a striker myself.
"I really don't like to play on the left side but if the coach asks me to play there, I try to give 100 per cent.
"I had a good game against Inverness but it was one of those where we had plenty ball possession and I was only working to attack and go forward.
"Sometimes the difficult part comes when you are playing against a really top side who are keeping the ball because I really don't know how to react defensively when I am in a four-man midfield. That would be my problem.
"Because we had 70 or 75 per cent of the ball against Inverness and were creating chances, it was easier for me to play there."
For the time being, Samaras is just happy to make hay while the sun shines and is looking ahead to a prosperous immediate future.
He said: "I'm really pleased with the team because we played some great football.
"Scoring six against Inverness was nice and I feel really well within myself and in the club.
"I hope we can build on our performances of the past few weeks and keep going.
"We have a good squad with really good players.
"For example, Scott Brown did not play against Inverness and Ki took his place. For me, he was man of the match.
"Daryl didn't play, yet Hoops came in and scored.
"It's a big season in all three competitions and everyone must be ready for the time the gaffer says they are going to play.
"I'm there to give 100 per cent for the team whenever the boss asks me."