Wilson takes positives from Danish pasting

Celtic defender Mark Wilson tried manfully to take some positives from an exacting return to first-team action in the 3-1 mauling by FC Copenhagen last night.

The 22-year-old reclaimed his right-back position from Paul Telfer for the first time since recovering from a broken foot picked up in the opening Group F fixture at Manchester United in September.

However, the former Dundee United player was unable to ease himself back into action as he came up against in-form Jesper Gronkjaer, who showed why he had once earned himself a £7.8m (€11.5m) move to Chelsea from Ajax.

Celtic, who had already qualified for the knockout stage before the trip to Denmark, will go into the December 15 draw in Nyon as runners-up to Manchester United.

Wilson said he is glad to be back in the fold, despite a difficult comeback: “It was great to be involved with the team again.

“Obviously it wasn’t the greatest result, but it was good that the manager (Gordon Strachan) showed faith in me by bringing me back.

“It could hardly have been a tougher game. I was up against Gronkjaer, who has been about at the highest level for a while, so it was a really tough return.

“But I preferred that. He made life difficult for me. I was being taken for a run and tested for pace.

“I enjoyed it even though I didn’t have my best game. I felt fine and my fitness was good.

“When I got injured against United I didn’t think I would get a second chance to play in the Champions League again this season.

“I was hoping I would be back for the return games against Manchester United and Copenhagen but it didn’t look like that was going to be the case.

“I’d like to thank the physios and the doctors and also the boys, who did well to get us through to the last 16.

“I’m not taking anything for granted because I could be back out of the team for Sunday at Dunfermline, but it’s great to be playing again.”

Celtic’s debilitating away record in Europe continued at the Parken Stadium.

Their capitulation in Copenhagen was the 12th time in the competition they have failed to win away from Glasgow.

Wilson denies the Parkhead players are developing a phobia about travelling and believes Copenhagen boss Stale Solbakken was only stating the obvious when he claimed the Hoops need at least a two-goal lead to survive in the next stage of the competition.

He said: “A one-goal lead is not going to be good enough to go through, but that goes for all the teams who play at home first in the next round.

“You have to win by a couple of goals and not concede any.

“I don’t think the away thing is preying on the players’ minds.

“Obviously we don’t want to lose all the away games and not pick up any points.

“But at the start of the campaign our aim was to qualify through the section, not just to win one away game.

“So we can look forward to the next round and I’d take any of the teams that are left in the draw.

“They are all massive clubs so it doesn’t matter who we get. It’s going to be a tough tie.”