CHARLIE MULGREW has taken to social media to deny that he walked off the field in the huff in the closing stages of Celtic's Europa League tie against Ajax last night. The midfielder, who had come on as a substitute after a two-month injury lay-off, was seen heading straight up the tunnel immediately after Ajax had scored what proved to be the winning goal. That sparked a raft of angry messages from Celtic supporters on social media who thought that Mulgrew had just thrown in the towel. The player, though, responded via his Instagram account, to explain that he had in fact picked up another injury and walked off only because he was distraught at the prospect of another period on the sidelines.

He wrote: "For those who think I walked off the park in a huff can't be serious?? Iv re injured my quad. Im devastated after being out so long and working hard to get back."

An hour later Mulgrew gave additional details: "I got the original injury against Aberdeen with 3-4 mins to go, stayed on and made the injury worse. Tonight I was running back from the corner and felt something go again so wouldn't have been able to even job about the park without making things worse. I've played through knocks and injury many of times for Celtic but until you've tore a tendon and realise what it feels like and how playing can be career threatening then you don't know. Looking back I maybe should have sat in the dug out but my head was gone. I'd worked hard to get back and I was/am devastated facing time out again especially after last year's tendon injury in my hamstring that kept me out for 6 months."