MULGREW TARGETS EUROPE

CHARLIE MULGREW is confident Celtic will be ready for the Champions League qualifiers following their short summer break.
The versatile Scotland international, who missed almost all of the second half of the season through injury, reckons the club are geared up for the challenge, despite the 5-3 defeat from Dukla Prague yesterday.
With the first leg against Iceland’s Stjarnen due at Parkhead a week on Wednesday, Mulgrew said: “It’s a big time in my career. When you are younger these are the games you want to be involved in and it’s great to look ahead to some of these big games coming up.
“We’ll be doing everything we can to be in the best shape, the best fitness and prepare mentally for them.”
Celtic failed to make the group stages of the Champions League last season as Ronny Deila endured a tough start to life at the Hoops.
But Mulgrew believes they are now used to his methods and are in good shape to get back to Europe’s top table.
He said: “We knew it would take time with the new manager, but reaching the end of the season, everyone was used to the training and knew what he wants from us.
“That can only help us going into these games.”
Mulgrew also revealed he has been in talks with Deila and Chief Executive Peter Lawwell about extending his stay at the Hoops with his contract due to run out in a year’s time.
He said: “I spoke briefly to Peter and the manager. I am happy here.
“I’ve been back at the club for five seasons now. It is probably hard to see myself anywhere else. I haven’t thought along those lines.”