Darren Jackson insists that the Barrowfield bust-up between Tosh McKinlay and Henrik Larsson was the catalyst for Celtic's title success under Wim Jansen in 1997-98 season.

The Dutchman guided the Hoops to the league title as his side shattered Rangers' 10-in-a-row dreams. McKinlay and the Swede striker had an altercation which led to the defender sticking the head on Larsson.

Larsson flew out of Glasgow and returned back home to attend a funeral in Sweden as the rumour mill was rife that he had kicked his last ball for Celtic. Nothing was further from the truth as he returned and stayed seven years at Parkhead where he scored 242 goals in 315 games.

Jackson revealed that the incident brought the players closer together rather than driving a wedge between the team-mates. He said: "The great irony about that training ground bust-up between Tosh and Henrik was that it brought the Celtic dressing room closer together. In a weird sort of way, it helped Celtic win the title.

"I was standing a yard from it and things just blew up, shall we say. Everybody who knows Tosh is well aware that he is a big Celtic fan. Tosh was in the wrong with what he did and he went around to see Henrik after it and he apologised and everything was cleared up.

"There was a lot of pressure and tension as a lot was riding on that season and the outcome of the title race. In the end, it didn't make any difference as it genuinely brought the Celtic players closer to each other and we ended up making history by winning the league."

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Jackson also revealed how the former Rangers midfielder Paul Gascoigne had a laugh at his expense when he sent him a joke text after he netted a goal at Pittodrie in a 2-0 win over Aberdeen in December 1998.

Not long after Jackson had completed his move to the club, at the age of 31, he was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a fluid buildup in the brain, which needed surgery. Incredibly he was on the sidelines for just nine weeks and made his return as a substitute when Alan Stubbs scored a dramatic last-minute equaliser in November.

He scored his first goal after his career-threatening illness scare against the Reds and he celebrated wildly with the Celtic fans and declared 'I'm Back!' to his adoring public. However, Jackson was named as a substitute by Jansen for the next home match against Hearts and his ex-Newcastle team-mate Gascoigne couldn't resist the opportunity to wind him up.

Jackson said: "I made my comeback from hydrocephalus in the Rangers game at Celtic Park when Alan Stubbs scored a last-minute equaliser. The reception I got that night will live with me forever. It was a few games later and were playing Aberdeen at Pittodrie and I had actually played quite well, and Henrik Larsson and I were developing a good understanding.

"To get that goal against Jim Leighton as well, who had been my team-mate at Hibs for five years was special. I was a striker, but I was never a massive goal scorer. I was sharp in and around the box and Reggie Blinker hit a shot and it rebounded. I have managed to squeeze it into the net It is not my best-ever goal but it just meant so much to me as it was my first goal after the operation and it was a really emotional moment.

"It was sheer bedlam and I ran to the pocket of the stand where the Celtic fans were housed and I gleefully shouted at the crowd 'I'm Back!' Well, we played hearts on Saturday and it was a big disappointment for me because I wasn't playing. I was absolutely buzzing from scoring in midweek but Wim Jansen played Jackie (McNamara) wide on the right, and I was listed as a substitute.

"After the game, I was still a little bit down. I turned my mobile phone on and there was a message. It was from Paul Gascoigne. We had struck up a great friendship whilst we were together at Newcastle.

"The message simply said: "You are back...back on the fucking bench! It made me laugh out loud."