OF all the firsts that Paul Hartley has enjoyed since he moved to Celtic in the January transfer window, defeat in a Hoops jersey isn't one of them - and themidfielder has no plans to include it in his list of experiences any time soon.

The Scotland internationalist will be forced into the unwelcome position of being on the outside looking in for the next few weeks as he starts a two-match suspension which rules him out of tomorrow's game against Dunfermline as well as the tantalising Old Firm derby next weekend.

Hartley is also ineligible for Celtic's second leg meeting with AC Milan in the San Siro next week as Gordon Strachan's side attempt to negotiate a way past the Italians and into the last eight of the Champions League.

It is a frustrating break for the player who has adroitly slotted into Celtic's midfield since his move from Tynecastle and, when he returns from suspension, Hartley will need to play in the remaining SPL games if he is to get his hands on a Championship medal.

Last season he was part of the Hearts side that won the Scottish Cup at Hampden - even if he did petulantly pick up a red card for a silly off-the-ball kick - and he is desperate to add to that.

He said: "As the years went on there were times when I've thought I might not get any, but I've picked up a few medals and hopefully I can pick up a few more trophies in my career "It'd be great to win more things. The reason I came here is to win medals and hopefully I can pick up some this season.

"It would be very nice. I got a taste of it last season and it would be great to come here and win the Scottish Cup with Celtic. But we've still got a semi-final to look at before then.

"However, we are confident we can go on and win the cup.

"It doesn't matter who you get in the semi-final because you have to play everyone at some point and no-one will make it easy for you.

"I do think that we deserve to be here in the semi-final. It's never easy at Inverness. We played a lot of good football and kept going to the death. I don't know what the secret is, but there is a real will to win here.

"We don't like getting beaten and I think that shows. We fight until the last minute and that has happened a lot here throughout the season."

While Hartley will have to wait until next season to get the chance to play in the Champions League with Celtic, he has warned against those writing the Hoops out of this season's competition.

Celtic kept a clean sheet against AC Milan last week, a factor that Hartley believes will be critical when he is left to cheer his team-mates on against the Italians in the San Siro.

He said: "It's always difficult watching the games against the bigger teams and they don't come any bigger than AC Milan.

"I thought the guys did all right on the night and we still have a right good chance of getting through.

"It wasn't a bad result because we didn't concede so we can only wait and see what happens now over there. There's still every chance."

Meanwhile, the pressure that comes with playing with either Old Firm side is something that the player has enjoyed so far.

He has struck up a partnership with Neil Lennon - someone who knows all about the pressures of being a high profile footballer in Glasgow - and hopes to continue it between now and the end of the season.

"I feel I have settled well," he told Celtic TV.

"It is always difficult when you come to a new team, but I am enjoying it and I feel as though the midfield partnership with Neil is going well.

"I've won the first four games that I've played in which has been good.

"There is a lot of media scrutiny on you and you are under pressure every week to win games, but it's a good pressure and I'm enjoying it."