Mulgrew regards a fourth league crown for Rangers as ‘unacceptable’

The Celtic defender urged his team-mates to launch their revival on Saturday away to Kilmarnock, as they bid to claw back some of the ten-point deficit to Rangers in the live televised game. Mulgew will be fit to play at Rugby Park, despite nursing bruised ribs after the defeat 11 days ago to Hearts.

However, it was Celtic’s pride that suffered the greatest damage at Tynecastle, with Lennon calling his players’ hunger to win into question after the 2-0 defeat that compounded the Old Firm defeat at Ibrox a fortnight earlier. The Celtic manager said his team lacked passion and put question marks over his own future, as he tries to halt Rangers’ quest for a fourth title in a row.

“I think four years without the title is unnaceptable,” said Mulgew, who began his career with Celtic and moved to Wolves in 2006 before Lennon brought him back to Parkhead in 2010. “It is a long time for a club like this. We have got to win the league this year.

“I cannot actually remember what it was like to win the league. I think it would have been under Gordon Strachan. I was still here but I was on loan for half the season at Dundee United. I have never been involved often enough to feel like I have actually won a title, so it is something I am desperate to do to really appreciate what it feels like.”

What made matters worse for Mulgrew was that he had been made captain for the game at Tynecastle, in the absence of long-term injury victim Scott Brown. “It has been hard to put the Hearts game out of my mind but hopefully we will have a positive attitude for Kilmarnock. I think there are a lot of players in the changing room with passion, and who are strong mentally. You saw it last season. I think it is just a matter of stringing a few results together.

“We are very disappointed after Hearts and losing to Rangers, but we cannot afford to think about the manager’s position. That just brings negative thoughts. It is like the end of the world in Glasgow when you lose.

“There is long way to go. The situation gets blown out of proportion when people start saying the league is over. I am sure we will get those points back. There are a lot of games to play and a lot of points to play for. You cannot say we cannot afford another slip-up. It is only October and I am sure there will be a lot more twists and turns. “

Mulgrew insisted he was unaware of Lennon questioning the passion of the Celtic dressing-room. “I do not pay any attention to what is getting said in the media, to be honest,” he said. “I do not read papers or listen to phone-ins. I think everyone here knows how much we are hurting after a defeat.”

Mulgrew also admitted he is desperate for a call-up to a Scotland squad who he believes are on an upward climb despite yet another failure in a qualification campaign.

Craig Levein’s side lost 3-1 to runaway Group I winners Spain in Alicante on Tuesday night to miss out on a Euro 2012 play-off spot to Czech Republic.

However, Celtic defender Mulgrew, 25, saw enough in that game, and in Scotland’s 1-0 win over Liechtenstein in Vaduz on Saturday, to believe the Scots will have a better chance of making the finals of the 2014 World Cup and he would love to be involved.

“Every player wants to play for their country,” said the former Scotland Under-21 player.

“Watching the game last night and the Liechtenstein game I’m desperate to be involved for my country.

“Craig Levein will do what’s right for Scotland and I’ll keep trying to play and play well.

“I think Spain is the hardest place to go so it was always going to be a difficult game, not having a lot of the ball. But I think Liechtenstein was a good performance and we’ve got a lot of good players there.

“Scotland are definitely heading in the right direction and I would like to be a part of it.”

The former Aberdeen player, who admitted he had not spoken to Levein, denied that he is eligible for selection by the USA.