Celtic defender Gary Caldwell has refuted reports suggesting he is set to join Stoke in January.
Hoops defender happy to stay in Scotland
Celtic defender Gary Caldwell has refuted reports suggesting he is set to join Stoke in January.
The Potters have been strongly linked with a New Year approach for the Scotland international as they look to piece together a side capable of maintaining their Premier League status.
However, the 26-year-old insists his only concern at present is finalising the details on a new contract with the Hoops.
Caldwell told Glasgow's
Evening Times: "I don't pay any attention to stuff like the reports about Stoke.
"I love playing for Celtic and I want to stay here for a long time. There is no news about my contract, but I'm not concerned at all.
"I want to stay and the club have shown they want to keep me, so we'll get it sorted."
Deserved
Caldwell helped Celtic secure a morale-boasting 2-0 success over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
The commanding defender was at the centre of the game's most controversial moment, with Guillermo Franco dismissed on the stroke of half-time for catching him with a flailing elbow.
"He swung a couple of arms and didn't look like he wanted to be there," added Caldwell.
"The assistant referee was very vigilant in spotting what he did, and if you do that you are going to get sent off. He deserved to go."
Positive
The victory helped to restore flagging pride at Parkhead, with the Hoops already destined to fall at the first hurdle in Europe's premier club competition.
"We showed against a top side we can be very good, and we could have scored more on the night," said Caldwell.
"So we definitely want to be back in the competition next season and hopefully we will do a lot better than this time."
