SCOTT ALLAN started only three games at Celtic last season – but continues to insist he does not regret moving to the Hoops.
The midfielder was bought from Hibs for a bargain £300,000 in August 2015 and was then routinely ignored by ex-boss Ronny Deila.
New manager Brendan Rodgers has sent him out on loan to Alan Stubbs’ Rotherham in the Championship for the season and the 24-year-old playmaker is eager to return and pick up his career at the champions.
He said: “I can’t have any regrets about joining Celtic. At the time, I signed for a massive club and it was a great opportunity for me. But it hasn’t worked out the way I wanted it to. I accept that.
“Now I want to do well in a very good league and, hopefully, there’s still a chance that I can be a success at Celtic.
“Even in my short spell with Brendan Rodgers, he taught me new things psychologically. And just being at a club where you have to win every week, that strengthens your character. So, I don’t regret anything.
“I’ve added more to my game at Celtic than I would have in the Championship with Hibs. And all I know is, every day I took as much out of training as I possibly could, even when I wasn’t playing.
“I learned from my previous mistakes in England with West Brom, Birmingham City and Portsmouth. I told myself I’d never do that again.
“Back then, I didn’t look after myself properly and didn’t train as hard when things weren’t going my way.
“But no-one at Celtic could say I’ve been like that for the past year. It was a learning curve for me in England – that’s why I’m the way I am now. I have a mentality and professionalism now that comes from being at a big club.
“I know what I give every day. I can look in the mirror satisfied that I gave everything I had at Celtic. I just didn’t get the breaks.”
In the pre-season training camp in Slovenia, Rodgers praised the player’s attitude and was keen for him to stay and fight for his place.
But after being left out of the Champions League qualifier against Astana at Parkhead, Allan revealed: “I went to the manager and asked about going out on loan. I felt it would benefit me.
“When you haven’t played 90 minutes for such a long time, it doesn’t matter how hard or well you train. You can even play pre-season friendlies and it doesn’t make up for it.
“At Celtic, they need guys who are right at it from the off because every result is so important.
“Off the back of not playing a lot of football last season, Brendan wasn’t going to throw me in early on. That’s why it was better to move to Rotherham.
“It’s great being at a big club but when you’re not playing you feel useless because you’re not contributing.
“But I want to play football and Rotherham was a chance to show people what I can do again.
“It’s my career and I want to be successful. I’m not going to achieve that by sitting on the bench or in the stand.
“My aim now is to improve as a player at Rotherham, do everything right, and impress the coaching staff at Celtic.”
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