THE lure of showcasing his talents in English football was sufficient to persuade Barry Robson that joining Middlesbrough was preferable to challenging for Scottish Premier League honours this season.

The Scotland international midfielder insists he will have no pangs of envy if his former club Celtic secure the title this season – so long as he can help Boro secure an immediate return to the Premier League.

He denies that leaving a club whose appearance in the Champions League was virtually assured for one struggling for a foothold in the Championship promotion race can be regarded as being a step down.

Robson’s move to the Riverside is predicted by regular Celtic watchers to be keenly felt by Tony Mowbray’s side, who are expected to miss the 31-year-old’s marauding runs up the left flank.

But Mowbray’s intention to recruit up to ten new faces this month convinced Robson that after 13 years in Scottish football, now was the time to make the move south.

When Strachan asked his former midfield enforcer to join him on Teesside, Robson did not hesitate “I enjoyed a lot of success at Celtic, winning titles and Cups during my time there.

Had I stayed, there might have been another title this season,’’ he said.

“But I always wanted to play in England before I was too old and this is the perfect opportunity. Every player needs a change and after seeing the same faces and places, it will be good to visit new grounds and play against different teams.

“If I can help Middlesbrough win promotion, then that will mean just as much to me. I feel a club like Middlesbrough definitely belongs in the Premier League and hopefully I can do my bit to help us get back there. Make no mistake about it, this is a massive club.”

After a couple of days training with his new team-mates, Robson was asked if he believed that Boro’s squad contained more quality than the reigning Scottish champions.

The experienced campaigner, however, was wary of insulting either side.

“Boro a better squad than Celtic? Ha, you boys are the same as the Scottish press,”

he quipped. “It’s hard to say after such a short space of time. But it is clear that there are some superb players here.

“I’ve been really impressed since I came here with the quality all across the squad. A lot of these lads have played in the Premier League and it shows.

“That is regarded as being the best in the world. It was a wrench to leave a club like Celtic but the prospect of helping Boro get back into the Premier makes it a challenge that I can’t wait to get my teeth into.”

He admitted to being bemused by Mowbray’s plans to overhaul Celtic, saying: “You can make your mind up, but if a manager comes in and says he wants to take a whole new set of players in...I don’t know, that was Tony Mowbray’s decision, that’s what he said.

“That’s nothing to do with me because I am here now and I am looking forward to trying to help Middlesbrough get back into the Premier League.”

Striker Chris Killen, who has also signed from Celtic, is the first New Zealander to play for Boro and has helped his country to qualify for this summer’s World Cup finals.

“I needed to play first-team matches ahead of the World Cup in South Africa,” he said.

“If I could end the season getting Boro back into the Premier League then that would set up a dream summer for me. I grew tired of being on the bench at Celtic.”

Willo Flood already has experience of the Championship from a loan spell at Cardiff and is ready to repay Strachan’s faith in his abilities.

“The chance to work with a manager that trusts me was a key factor in me coming here.

This is a tough division and Middlesbrough should be higher up the table. But there is plenty of time to turn things around and I’m glad to have been given a chance to play my part.”