ERLEND HANSTVEIT today kicked off his week-long trial at Celtic confident he is the answer to the club's left-back problem.

The 6ft 2in international defender is available on a Bosman after completing 10 years with Norwegian club Brann Bergen.

A change of manager has convinced the 27-year-old club captain that, after more than 270 games for Bergen, the time is right for him to finally break away from the only club he has ever served.

And, though Bergen have offered him a new deal to replace the four-year agreement which has just ended, Hanstveit believes the time is right for him to move to a bigger stage.

He said today: "I was invited over here to train with Celtic for a week, so we will see how it goes before it eventually becomes something concrete."

It will be second time lucky for Celtic if they do manage to agree a deal with Hanstveit, who first came onto the club's radar when Martin O'Neill was manager.

More recently the five-times capped defender was also wanted by Wolves and Werder Bremen. Butthe deals broke down and he returned to leading Bergen where he made more appearances than anyone else last season.

Now, with the departure of coach Mons Ivar Mjelde, Hanstveit believes he has reached a career crossroads.

With a new contract on the table for several weeks, he had informed Bergen he would wait to see who was going to replace Mjelde before deciding if he would sign.

And with the news that former Tromso boss Steinar Nilsen is taking over on January 1, and after watching the club sign another left-back, Bjorner Holmvik, Hanstveit's mind has been made up.

"Now the pieces fall into place and it will make it easier to decide," said Hanstveit. "The new coach will be in place at Bergen in January, and it is likely I will make my decision about my future before the New Year.

"Whatever happens, my relationship with Bergen will remain fine."

Hanstveit has been told all about the SPL and Celtic by former Dundee United and Aberdeen star Robbie Winters, who has also just left the Norwegian club.

Another team-mate at Bergen was former Dons midfielder Cato Guntveit. And the articulate Hanstveit - who holds office in the Norwegian players' union and on other sports bodies - believes he is at the right stage of his career to make the move.

The man who has also played in midfield and at centre-back has limited experience of Champions League and Uefa Cup football and would like to gain more with Celtic.