Source: Team_Talk
Wilson won't give up on Hoops dreams
Mark Wilson will continue his battle for first-team football at Celtic having been restored to the side and then quickly dropped.[LNB] The 26-year-old right-back has been plagued with injury since joining his boyhood heroes from Dundee United in January 2006.[LNB]But after regaining his place in the side this season he was surprisingly dropped by boss Neil Lennon for Wednesday's Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.[LNB]Ahead of the return trip to Perth on Saturday on Scottish Premier League duty, the former Scotland under-21 defender said: "Battling for your position is part of football and at Celtic and Rangers it's harder than at most clubs.[LNB]"But I'm very fortunate to be here and I don't take it for granted.[LNB]"It's pretty hard to believe that I have been here for so long, I didn't think I would be at a club like this for so long and I really appreciate it.[LNB]"I started my Celtic career pretty well but I picked up an injury and since then I have always been pretty injury prone.[LNB]"It's not my choice but I have had a broken foot and knee injuries which have kept me out.[LNB]"It has been almost a constant battle to get back.[LNB]"I have always felt that when I was getting to my best and trying to get a run of eight to 10 games, I would always break down again.[LNB]"Hopefully I can stay fit and stay playing until the end of the season."[LNB]Wilson was the only unforced change to the Celtic side which lost 3-1 at home to Rangers last Sunday but he does not believe he was made a scapegoat.[LNB]"Obviously I wanted to play but I wasn't picked," he said.[LNB]"I wish I could say yes (the manager was being careful with me) but I guess Saturday's SPL game against St Johnstone will be the judge of that.[LNB]"I'm feeling fit just now. I have no problems so I want to play every game I can, especially with missing so many games over the years for Celtic.[LNB]"There was no conversation. The manager sticks to the same routine, he gives the team talk and reads the team out pretty quickly and you are expected to get on with it.[LNB]"(Coach) Alan Thompson had a few words with me and I appreciated that.[LNB]"He told me not to be disappointed, that the Rangers game was over and that he didn't want me to think they singled me out for any special criticism.[LNB]"He had just felt that Cha Du-Ri was better suited to the game.[LNB]"It's up to me just to get on with it. The team won and that's the important thing."
