I should have quit Celtic sooner - McGlinchey
08 Feb 2010 - 15:50:27
New Motherwell signing Michael McGlinchey believes he took too long to leave boyhood heroes Celtic, but hopes he can do them a favour if he makes his debut against Rangers at Fir Park on Wednesday night.The New Zealand international, 23, who has signed until the end of the season from Australian side Central Coast Mariners, was raised in Glasgow and chose the Hoops over Manchester United when then Parkhead boss Martin O'Neill turned up on his doorstep.In 2002, at the age of 15, he became the youngest player ever to make an appearance for Celtic when O'Neill picked him to play in a friendly against Wycombe.However, despite being noted as one of the brightest prospects to come through the Parkhead youth system, he failed to make the grade and after being released last year, eventually won a deal with the Australian A-League side."I can't wait for my debut whenever it is but if it comes against Rangers it will be an added bonus and I will be looking forward to it," he said. "I'm glad of the time I had at Celtic. I worked under some great coaches and I'm thankful for what they did for me."But I think I would like to have left a few years before. I left when I was 22, if I had got away at 20 I would have played more first-team games by now."