SCOTT CARDLE had a big decision to make when he was a youngster: a career as a footballer or one as a boxer.

Elder brother Joe elected to pursue his dream of making a name for himself as a midfielder and is currently plying his trade with Dunfermline, for whom he has made in excess of 160 appearances.

It appears that his sibling also chose wisely, give that the 27-year-old Lytham-born lightweight is the reigning British champion with a record of 21 wins from 22 contests.

But Cardle remains passionate about football, to the extent that he is an ambassador for the Celtic Foundation and realised a dream to wear the Hoops when he played for the club in a charity match in honour of Jock Stein in 2015.

Such publically declared loyalty inevitably comes at a price, of course, and as the son of Glaswegian parents, Cardle is only too well aware of the ramifications of his allegiance to the Premiership champions-elect.

"Promoting my Celtic side means that only half of the city is behind me," Cardle said ahead of his attempt to win the Lonsdale Belt outright against Yorkshireman Robbie Barrett on the undercard of Ricky Burns' world title defence at the Hydro Arena next month.

"But it will still be special. It's going to be incredible doing it in my family's home town. I was born and raised in Lytham St Anne's but my heart is here, that goes without saying.

"I feel like I'm starting to build a good base up here and I'd love more big fights in Glasgow in the future."

Barrett, 25, boasts a 14-2-1 record and Cardle added: "This is possibly my toughest fight, not knowing anything about his style, and the fact he's coming off a good few wins.

"I don't think the Boxing Board of Control would have sanctioned this fight if they thought it was easy. But it has always been my dream to own a Lonsdale Belt.

"While I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, after that, European level is the next logical step for me. Edis Tatli of Finland is the current European champion and I would be quite happy to travel there to take the title off him.

"But I've got to focus on the job at hand first. A lot of people are underestimating Robbie Barrett but I'd be stupid if I also did that."