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Mphela ready for 2nd chance

Johannesburg - Katlego Mphela has insisted he can succeed at Celtic despite a failed spell in France earlier in his career.

The 26-year-old, who has scored 19 goals in 39 international appearances, will spend five days on trial in Glasgow next week and is available for a fee of around R17 million.

The Mamelodi Sundowns striker spent two years at RC Strasbourg as a teenager and failed to score a single goal but 'Killer' believes he is now a far more complete player.

"It's a different story now. Back then, I was still only 18 or 19 and it was hard to adjust and I ended up coming home," he told Football365.co.za.

"But I think that has helped me in the long run because I am now a regular for my country and have played in all these big competitions like the Confederations Cup and the World Cup. I'm pleased that things have gone well but now I want to go back to Europe and prove myself."

With Sundowns having turned down an offer of R15 million from Israeli champions Maccabi Haifa last week, there had been some doubt whether Mphela would be allowed to travel to Scotland.

But the striker paid tribute to club president Patrice Motsepe after he granted permission for him to fly to Scotland at the weekend.

Mphela said: "They've handled it well and have given me their blessing to go. I appreciate that because Sundowns don't usually allow players to go on trial but they have made an exception for me. I have to thank the president for that. Now it's up to me to show what I can do in Scotland."

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