Mulgrew aiming for cup final

Celtic midfielder Charlie Mulgrew has refused to rule out making the QTS Scottish League Cup final as he bids to return from a knee injury. Mulgrew is targeting a return to full training on March 11 - just four days before the Hampden clash against Dundee United.

The Scotland player has not made a first-team appearance since December 3, breaking down on his return from a knee injury during a reserve friendly last month.

Mulgrew said: The plan is to be training that week, whether it comes a bit early we will just need to wait and see.

I came back a bit too early and broke down. It's been a long road but there's now light at the end of the tunnel. I'm delighted to be back running outside and can really see an end goal of being back at training.

It's been difficult but you need to get your head down and work as hard as you can.

There's been a lot of big games, the Rangers game being a semi-final and the Europa League first leg against Inter Milan and the second leg is coming up on Thursday. It is disappointing but I'm over that now and looking forward.

I'm desperate to be involved and I'm doing everything I can to get back without rushing things.''

Mulgrew will miss two huge games this week with the trip to the San Siro followed by a home game against title challengers Aberdeen.

The Dons can move level with Celtic if they win at Parkhead and Mulgrew believes his team-mates will have to be wary of his much-improved former club.

They seem to be tight at the back and working well defensively as a unit,'' the 28-year-old said.They did that last year as well but this year they seem to be getting a few more goals and it's getting them more points.

We will need to be aware that they are very tight at the back but they do have the threat going forward. They have goalscorers in their team.''

Mulgrew, who spent two seasons at Pittodrie before rejoining Celtic in 2010, believes Aberdeen should be fighting at the top of the Scottish Premiership.

It's a bigger club than a lot of people realise,'' he said.

They've obviously won the league in the past and European cups and when you are up there you realise how big a club it is.

They are probably where they should be and they will be looking to challenge us all the way. But it's up to us to see off that.''