New deal a no-brainer for Wilson

Mark Wilson has revealed it took him no time at all to agree to sign a new contract at Celtic.

The full-back, 24, today put pen to paper on a three-year deal to keep him at the club until 2012.

The decision was a no-brainer for boyhood Celtic fan Wilson, who joined the Clydesdale Bank Premier League champions from Dundee United almost three years ago.

“It feels great to sign the new contract,” Wilson told his club’s official website, www.celticfc.co.uk.

“I’ve been at Celtic for a while now and we managed to come to an agreement really quickly.”

Wilson, who has helped the club and manager Gordon Strachan win three successive SPL titles, is hungry for more success.

He said: “I’m looking forward to spending at least the next three-and-a-half years here. I’ve always been a Celtic supporter and it was an easy decision to sign the contract.

“I think the best years are still ahead of me with Celtic. I don’t think defenders hit their peak until they get older and I don’t think I’ve hit top form here by any means.

As a former season-ticket holder at Celtic Park, Wilson always hoped to pull on the Hoops as a youngster and insisted the experience of the last three years will stay with him forever.

He said: “There are so many highlights from my time at Celtic already. The stand-out is winning the title at Tannadice last season. It’s a moment I will never forget.

“It will take a lot to beat the way we won the league last season, but if we go on to win a few more trophies this season then you never know.

“I’ve come a long way in the last three years. I’ve won trophies, I’ve played a few different positions and I think I’ve grown up a lot as well.

“But hopefully the best years are still to come. I’m learning all the time under Gordon Strachan and Garry Pendrey and I want to keep doing that.”

Wilson has followed in the footsteps of the likes of Stephen McManus, Scott Brown, Scott McDonald, Shaun Maloney and Artur Boruc by signing long-term deals with Celtic and insists it is an exciting time for the club.

He said: “We are a strong side and a young side. It can only be good for Celtic if we all stay at the club for a long time. The longer we play together, the better we will get.

“Losing to Aalborg last week was a blow, but we still have a lot to play for this season and we’ll be doing our best to win all three domestic trophies and ensure it’s another exciting season for the supporters.”

Meanwhile, Erlend Hanstveit began his week-long trial at Celtic today but refused to speculate on whether it would lead to a permanent move.

The Brann Bergen defender, 27, has been touted as a solution to the Scottish champions’ left-back problem and would be available on a free transfer.

The Norwegian club’s captain has been offered a new deal to extend his 10-year stay there but he delayed a decision on his future until after a new head coach was appointed.