Mulgrew 'much improved' for second chance at Celtic Park

After failing to get his chance at first-team level under then manager Gordon Strachan, the former Celtic youth player opted to move to Wolves following a successful loan spell at Dundee United.

That move did not quite work out either and, after a loan spell at Southend, he returned north of the border to Aberdeen in 2008.

After his contract at Pittodrie expired this summer, Parkhead manager Neil Lennon stepped in to hand the 24-year-old left back a three-year deal and a return to his boyhood heroes.

Speaking at the club's Lennoxtown training complex, Mulgrew denied there was a clash of personalities with Strachan but claimed that personal development makes him better placed to take advantage of a rare second chance at Celtic.

"At the time things weren't working here under that manager and it was time to move on," said Mulgrew.

"I wouldn't say it was a personal situation, the relationship was fine, it was for football reasons.

"Different managers have different opinions on players and maybe I wasn't his type of player at the time.

"Obviously you want to get chances coming through at a club and I was disappointed that I didn't get a proper chance, but when I got the opportunity to move on I had to take it. I had to play games, that was the most important thing for me at that time.

"These things happen in football and you just have to move on and believe you can make a career for yourself and I was happy to do that at the time.

"It was a bit of a setback but, as I said, you need to believe in yourself and be positive and look to the future.

"It's up to me now. I think I have matured as a person."

Mulgrew added: "It's maybe taken a couple of setbacks for me to be the person I am now. But I feel that I am definitely a better player and a better person as well."

Mulgrew, noted for his dead-ball abilities, admits that he thought his chance of playing first-team football for Celtic had gone when he moved to the midlands.

"To be fair, once I left Celtic I thought that was it," the former Scotland Under-21 defender said.

"It's not very often a player comes back to a club like this but it was up to me to work hard, play the best I could and believe I could get back to this sort of level and I'm just delighted to be here.

"I was pretty close (to signing for Sheffield United] to be honest but when this came calling there was no doubt where I was going. It's good to be back.

"It's been ongoing for a couple of weeks now and I'm happy to be back. Growing up a Celtic fan it was a dream move and I'm delighted.

"With a club the size of Celtic it's always going to be tough and you need to prove yourself every single day.

"I prefer to play left back or left midfield and get forward, but if I'm needed at centre back I'm more than willing to play there."