CHARLIE Mulgrew has vowed to do everything he can help Dundee United’s promising youngsters showcase their talents against Celtic at Tannadice tomorrow night and delay his former club landing the Scottish title until the weekend.
Mulgrew turned 36 in March and is nearing the end of his lengthy professional career – but he knows he can use his experience to assist the likes of Archie Meekison, Dylan Levitt and Mathew Anim Cudjoe.
The former Scotland internationalist is keen for United, who are a point ahead of Motherwell and two in front of Ross County in the cinch Premiership table with two games remaining, to finish fourth in the league and secure European qualification.
A win over Ange Postecoglou’s team, who need just a draw to reclaim the trophy they relaxed their vice-like grip on 12 months ago after nine successive triumphs, would go a long way towards realising their objective.
The defender cum midfielder thinks Tam Courts’ kids can play a big part in pulling off an upset.
“That’s the aim,” said Mulgrew. “Finishing top six was our aim first and foremost. Now after doing it we want to aim for European football and try and push for fourth.
“We were hopeful we could win the game against Rangers on Sunday. But that wasn’t the case and that was disappointing. We just didn’t do enough in possession. We’ll go back and look at it and try to improve.
“We move on to Celtic at home and we’ll try to pick up points from that game. Totally different game, totally different occasion, totally different way of playing. So we’re going to need to be ready to step up and hopefully get a result.
“I want to finish as high up the table as I can. We’re reasonably happy, but the season’s not done yet and we still want to push on.”
He continued: “There’s some good young players who have a good upbringing at Dundee United. They are learning all the time.
“Whether I’m playing in midfield or the back, I just try to help them as much as I can. Even though sometimes I’m really tired and it’s hard to get the words out to tell them where to be, to try to help them along.
“But there are some real good players. Archie Meekison’s a good player and somebody who has great game knowledge and is good to play alongside. Young Dylan Levitt has come in on loan from Man United is also a really good player, good footballer.”
Cudjoe, the Ghanian teenager who United signed from Young Apostles in his homeland last year, made his first start for the Tayside outfit at Ibrox on Sunday and Mulgrew anticipates many more will follow in the coming seasons.
“Matty’s a really good player,” he said. “He’s a young boy who needs game time. It was a difficult one for him against Rangers with us not having a lot of possession. When we do that it suits his style a lot more. He’s definitely one for the future. He can really kick on if he wants to.
“But, like for any young player, it’s a long hard road with its ups and downs. Hopefully he can come through for us and be a top player and go on to big things.
“I’ll help them as much as I can. I’m probably a bit disappointed we didn’t get more of the ball to show their qualities against Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday. Hopefully we can do that against Celtic.”
