GARY CALDWELL claims Celtic's dramatic final-day league triumph at the end of last season was the highlight of his career.

GARY CALDWELL claims Celtic's dramatic final-day league triumph at the end of last season was the highlight of his career.

The defender has enjoyed other great moments, including his winning goal against France for Scotland in October 2006, but the victory against Dundee United at Tannadice eclipsed even that.

The moment was made sweeter by the pivotal role he played in his side's late charge. In the last six games of the season, Caldwell was arguably Celtic's best player and has special memories of the run-in to the campaign.

"I think it was the best night of my career," he said. "We went there knowing that if we won we would win the championship, after being written off by so many people. It was a massive achievement and one I will always remember. It was better than scoring against the French. You play the game to win trophies and that's why I came here - to win a second championship.

"I spoke about it with family and friends, and there was a belief with about four or five games to go that we were going to win it. We had the momentum and Rangers had games stacking up. Tiredness was always going to creep in. It always felt like we were going to win it.

"I have seen clips of when the goal went in at Pittodrie, and obviously at the time we heard the roar. It did settle nerves a bit. It was a very nervous night. You could feel the tension on the park. When that goal went in it settled us and to score ourselves made it comfortable.

"It's a place where we have won quite often in the past few years, but it's always a difficult game. To go back after winning the league there will bring back a lot of good memories, and hopefully the lads will be in a positive frame of mind and get the same result again."

The arrival of Glenn Loovens, the centre-half from Cardiff, has increased competition for defensive slots but Caldwell admits that new signings are part and parcel of life at a big club.

"It's a challenge," he reflected. "As an individual you have to do your own job and make sure that you are the one that impresses the manager and gets into the team. You come to Celtic to have that challenge and improve as a footballer."