Manager knows best when it comes to injuries.

Shaun Maloney has admitted he did not deliver on his promise when he was brought back to Parkhead by former manager Gordon Strachan. Maloney spent 18 months at Aston Villa last summer but the forward confessed he struggled to hit top form on his return. He suffered with an ongoing hamstring problem towards the end of last season, with Strachan even stating the problem was in the player's head. The campaign ended in frustration for Celtic with rivals Rangers beating them to the SPL title and Maloney, now fully recuperated, is focused on showing new boss Tony Mowbray his true form.

Maloney said: "It was unfortunate for us the way the league unfolded last season. I felt I let the previous boss down. I gave it my all, but there were times with my hamstring injury at the end of last season when I wasn't contributing to the team." Maloney even confessed that perhaps Strachan had been right when he suggested the injury was more mental than physical. He went on: "It was an awkward injury and I could see his point. It wasn't even my worst injury and I've been out longer because of other things. I got a weak tear in it again which was disappointing. I just felt I couldn't contribute. The previous manager had brought me back and I wanted to prove he was right to do that, but I didn't feel I could properly contribute for the last few months."

Maloney hopes he has put his injury nightmare behind him and has set his sights set on breaking into Mowbray's starting XI. He said: "The manager has shown us the different formations he wants us to play and made it clear we shouldn't read too much into the team he played in Brisbane (Celtic beat Brisbane Roar 3-0). But to get into his starting side no matter who is available will be a tough task and we'll get a better idea of what's happening when we play our first proper game in the Champions League qualifying."
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