Hinkel keen to make up for missing out in Germany and Spain with a championship win at Celtic

• More Celtic news

He has a similar tale of thwarted ambition from his time in the Bundesliga, where Stuttgart were perennial bridesmaids during his six years at the Gottlieb-Daimler stadium.

Scroll down for more

That lack of a national championship is a sizeable gap in the 25-year-old's CV, which includes 17 caps for Germany. It is an absence he is now desperate to redress come the end of this season.

Celtic can cut the gap on leaders Rangers to a single point - having played a game more - with victory over Dundee United at Parkhead tonight.

A fascinating chase for the flag promises many more twists and turns, but Hinkel's sole concern is ending up with a much-desired medal.

"I've never won a league title," he said. "But Celtic have that chance now. I won the UEFA Cup and Copa del Rey with Sevilla and had the chance to also win the Spanish league last season.

"That was still alive in the last two games, but we lost it. In Germany, it was also possible with Stuttgart but it never happened there, either.

"I know that titles are what matters. It doesn't matter how you play, it's about winning. But I learned in Stuttgart and Seville that it is tough to get to the finishing line. You can only look ahead to the next game, so I can't think about playing Rangers when we have other matches before then.

"Perhaps it can be third time lucky for me. I'm 25 and know I have enough time to become a national champion. Maybe it can happen this year."

Hinkel knows better than most the demands that will be placed on Rangers if they continue their UEFA Cup progress by knocking out Werder Bremen tomorrow.

Many Parkhead supporters would view the extension of their rivals' Continental commitments as good news for Celtic's title bid. Hinkel, though, is not so sure after his time at Sevilla.

"We played the UEFA Cup to the Final and the same in the Copa del Rey," he said. "Every three days we would have a game.

"I know Rangers are still in four competitions but it's impossible to say what will happen. Maybe the last few weeks will be difficult because of all the demands - but maybe not. Results give confidence and they might play well until the last game. At Sevilla, we played well right through to the end of the season because we had confidence.

"We'll see what happens with Rangers. The situation can change if you don't get results."

The cultural switch from Andalusia to the west of Scotland has been as difficult for Hinkel to juggle as the obvious aesthetic differences between La Liga and the SPL.

Settling into his new surroundings has taken time but the January buy believes his input will improve as the season approaches its frantic finale.

"At first, it was difficult for me here because I hadn't played much earlier in the season for Sevilla," said Hinkel. "But I feel better with every day. From Germany to Scotland would not be a big difference, but it is from Spain to Scotland.

"The weather is so different and so is the rhythm of the day. In Spain, you have to take a siesta in the middle of the afternoon for one or two hours. You had to do it because the weather was so warm. Dinner would be nine or 10pm, but now it's about changing my lifestyle to what it was like in Germany.

"I don't sleep in the afternoon any more. I come home about 3pm but I've had a lot of things to sort out since moving to Glasgow. Last week, I moved into my own apartment, so I'm getting furniture delivered and things like that. I must also learn English better and sometimes I have lessons."

His decision to sign for Celtic ahead of Borussia Dortmund provoked a scathing response in his homeland, with Dortmund general manager Michael Zorc casting aspersions about money being the source of Hinkel's motivation.

With Strachan's side reaching the last 16 of the Champions League and Rangers enjoying success over Bundesliga opposition - so far anyway - the player believes those perceptions may now be altered.

"Maybe the results we've seen will make people in Germany think that Scotland is not so bad," Hinkel said. "I watched the first leg between Rangers and Bremen. I'm a Celtic player and a German guy, so I wasn't sure how I should react. But the second-placed team in the Bundesliga lost at Ibrox and it's good that the German people see the standards over here.

"Rangers also beat Stuttgart in the Champions League. My old side won the Bundesliga last season but did not play well in Europe."

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has praised the combination Hinkel is forming with Shunsuke Nakamura on the right flank, but believes Gary Caldwell has been the chief beneficiary of the German's arrival.

"Andreas hadn't played a lot and Scottish football is alien to him," said Strachan, who revealed left-back Lee Naylor has returned to training after an illness. "We were in the Nou Camp last week where the pitch is lush.

"You would struggle to grow tatties on some of the pitches over here. Andreas has been forced to get used to that and has to learn when to get rid of the ball and when to play. It has been an education. But he and Nakamura have settled in well together. I'm not sure they have much conversation, but they are very good at what they do.

"Andreas also allows Gary to play at centre-half and you can tell by his performances that it's better for him.

"I told Gary that whatever flew his way when he was at right-back, he wouldn't be judged on it. But his mentality was first-class."