Viduka: I rejected Celtic overtures

New Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka has claimed Celtic tried to lure him back to Parkhead.

The Australian forward was a hit during his time in the east end of Glasgow, despite a shaky start to his Hoops career.

He walked out on the club just days after signing, claiming he was suffering from stress, but recovered to prove himself in front of goal as Henrik Larsson’s strike partner.

Those performances earned him a move to Leeds, despite Martin O‘Neill’s pleas for him to remain at Celtic, and it now appears the Celtic boss made a renewed bid to take Viduka back to Parkhead.

But the player, who has signed a three-year-deal with Boro, insists it would have been a backward step.

He told the Scottish Daily Star: “There was some interest from Celtic but I‘m not one for going back in life.

“I wanted to stay in the Premiership.”