YOUSSOUF MULUMBU has revealed he is still determined to be a success with Celtic.
The DR Congo international midfielder, 32, agreed a two-year deal with Brendan Rodgers as a free agent in the summer.
However, Mulumbu has failed to make an impact at Parkhead and made only two starts before the Hoops boss loaned him to his former side Kilmarnock during the January transfer window.
However, the former Paris Saint-Germain player insists he can still make the breakthrough at the champions and is looking forward to returning in the summer.
At the same time, Mulumbu sportingly praised the emergence of Ryan Christie who helped ease him out Rodgers’ first team squad.
He said: “It was hard at Celtic. You are going into a team which is winning every game and you see players like Ryan Christie, who deserved to play, to get his chance. I was frustrated, but I was also happy for Ryan.
“You could say he took my spot, but he really deserved it and I just tried to stay fit.
“I spoke with the manager at Celtic and he said that, if I could get some games by being on loan, he’d let me go.
“We are on good terms and I came to Kilmarnock with confidence and a little bit of disappointment, so I need to show I’m a good player and that’s what I intend to do.”
Mulumbu added: “Do I regret the move? No, no, no. It’s a great club and my team-mates were amazing with me.
“When I had the chance to play, I was injured and, like I said, Ryan took the spot and we were in the same situation.
“He got the chance and he took it by playing well and scoring in every game. It happens in football. Sometimes you need the luck to be there at the right time and I know things can change quickly.
“I’m here for six months to help Kilmarnock and if I do everything right and if we achieve something very good, I know I’ll be back at Celtic in the summer and everything can change from there.
“In my head, it’s not over at Celtic. If you speak with Brendan and the lads, they know I want to go back and do great things for them.
“You only understand how great the club is when you sign for them, but my focus right now is entirely on Kilmarnock.
“If we finish first or second, it can change for me. I’m not going to hold back. If we come first, it would be great for us and unlucky for Celtic.”
Mulumbu caught Rodgers’ eye in February last year with a Man of the Match performance in the Killie midfield where he dominated the 90 minutes and claimed the only goal of the game in a shock win for Steve Clarke’s men.
Unfortunately, he has not been able to replicate that form at Celtic, but he clearly believes he still has a future with the champions.
Time will tell.
