Loan move might suit Marshall

Celtic goalkeeper David Marshall is looking for a loan deal in the summer after failing to break past Artur Boruc in the Hoops first team.

The Scotland international has slipped behind the Pole at club level and Craig Gordon of Hearts for his country.

The 20-year-old kept goal in Gordon Strachan’s first two competitive matches in charge but conceded nine goals against Artmedia Bratislava and Motherwell.

Boruc took over for the return game against Artmedia and not looked back, leaving Marshall on the sidelines. Now the hero of the Nou Camp in March 2004 is looking for a short-term stint elsewhere this summer.

Marshall told Scotland Today: “I have asked the manager. Obviously the manager needs the two goalkeepers. We’re the only two ‘keepers at the club with first-team experience, so that wasn’t going to happen in the January transfer window.

“So I’ll maybe have a chat with the manager towards the end of the summer and see what’s happening because, with the experience I’ve had, I can’t afford to sit on the bench for another season like this.

“So, hopefully, something will transpire in the summer and we will see what happens.”

Meanwhile, Strachan has challenged defender Charlie Mulgrew to prove his first-team credentials during his loan spell at Dundee United.

The 22-year-old has earned plaudits for some of his displays with the Tangerines since joining the club until the end of the campaign.

And the Celtic boss insists those performances have not gone unnoticed with Mulgrew’s employers.

Strachan told the club’s official website, www.celticfc.net: “We’re definitely keeping a very close eye on Charlie and we’ve been pleased with him.

“That said, he still needs to work on the things he isn’t so good at and, for all the praise he’s receiving at the moment – and rightly so – those weaknesses are still showing up now and again.

“But we’re delighted Dundee United have given him the opportunity to prove he can play and do well in the SPL, and the next challenge for Charlie when he comes back will be to prove that he play and do well for Celtic.

“I’m delighted for the lad that it’s going well for him because I like his attitude.

“There’s a desire there to prove that he can play at the top level and, so far with United, he’s doing very well.”