No Celtic deal for Halmosi

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan will not be handing Hungarian trialist Peter Halmosi a full-time contract.

The 26-year-old Debrecen winger, who faced Manchester United in a Champions League qualifier in August, was looking to secure a move to the Glasgow giants but failed to convince Strachan he was any better than the players already there.

The Celtic boss has already signed Mark Wilson from Dundee United during the January transfer window and Kenny Miller and Gary Caldwell on pre-contract agreements.

But Strachan said: “There’ll be nothing happening with Halmosi.

“He’s a good player alright, but he’s not so outstanding as to be better than the lads we already have at the football club. So we’ll be leaving it at that.”

Stanislav Varga is also on his way out of Parkhead after his agent confirmed the Slovakia international defender will be leaving Celtic in the summer.

But he has ruled out the player following Chris Sutton to Birmingham.

Tony McGill joked that Rangers chairman David Murray is more likely to get a contract at Parkhead than Varga, having fallen out of favour with Gordon Strachan until recently.

Varga, the former Sunderland player, came in from the cold against Motherwell on Sunday and earned the praise of his manager following their 3-1 Bank of Scotland Premier League win.

But Varga, who was rescued from the football scrapheap by Martin O’Neill in July 2003, is expected to make way again when Roy Keane, Stephen McManus and Bobo Balde return.

McGill told PA Sport: “He is contracted until the end of the season but I doubt very much that Celtic will offer Stan a new contract.

“David Murray has a better chance of getting a new contract at Celtic than Stan Varga.

“He will be leaving Celtic at the end of the season.”

But McGill shot down suggestions he could be on his way to Birmingham as he also acts for Sutton.

He explained: “Birmingham are not interested but people are always looking out for players, especially at those who are out of contract in the summer.

“But I can categorically deny Birmingham are interested because I am Chris Sutton’s agent.”

Varga has struggled with injury problems but McGill still believes he has been treated unfairly by Strachan, who axed him following Celtic’s 5-0 drubbing against Artmedia Bratislava and 4-4 draw with Motherwell in July.

“We will find out next week what his situation is and whether he keeps his place,” added the agent.

“Stan has always been prepared to play for Celtic but he has been out for an awful long time.

“Shortly after the Bratislava game, the manager decided to change things around but he has given everyone a second chance apart from Stan until recently.

“He had to wait an awful long time to get a game but he played the last game and played very well.”

Charlie Mulgrew appears highly unlikely to feature for Dundee United at Celtic Park on Saturday.

Strachan confirmed he will be requesting the on-loan defender is not pitted against his employers.

The 22-year-old has been in outstanding form since making the temporary switch to Tannadice earlier this month but discussions will take place to remove him from the side.

“I wouldn’t think that Charlie will be involved on Saturday, no,” Strachan told Celticfc.co.uk.

“I’ll be speaking to Dundee United about that this week and I’d be surprised if there are any problems.

“There’s no doubt he’s doing well there. Charlie’s certainly a good player, but he needs some proper games at first-team level and there are a few here who could do with the same just to nudge them along in their development.

“There comes a stage when reserve football is no use to you anymore and Charlie’s one of the players who definitely needed to be tested at a higher level.”