Nadir Ciftci in Celtic squad for first Malmo match

Now we have two games to reach it. We just have to be the best we can be.

“I know how good a player he is and he is a fantastic personality as well”. He will no doubt do a job for the team and I will be ready if I am needed to come on.

The 64-year-old’s comments left Deila riled and, after Celtic’s 4-2 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Saturday, the Parkhead boss vowed to make compatriot Hareide eat his words.

In terms of Champions League pedigree, there is no contest between Celtic and Malmo.

“He’s a good football player and I’ve seen that in training now”, Deila told a press conference.

If a bumper Celtic Park crowd can be a difference maker – Hareide purred about the atmosphere here, and how it reminded him that football is the “best live entertainment in the world” – he was equally enthused about the prospect of getting Celtic back to the Swedbank Stadium in Malmo with the tie still alive.

“The thought process for me was ‘what’s best for my football career?'”. He is probably the guy that has given me the platform to go and play and I have a lot to thank him for.

It is a similar situation for two of his former team-mates who arrived earlier this year, namely Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven. If we do that and not succeed, then we are not good enough and you have to go on.

“I have a lot of respect for Alan Stubbs”.

The boyhood Rangers fan submitted a transfer request to Hibernian late last month amid several bids from Ibrox, but the Edinburgh club refused to sell to their Ladbrokes Championship rivals and Allan jumped at the chance to join Celtic when they made their move last week.

“It wasn’t much of a concern, I was just uncertain what I was going to come out and face”.

The Celtic new boy was caught up in the Glasgow goldfish bowl after signing for the Hoops following a summer of being pursued Rangers – the club he has supported since he was a kid.

Griffiths was a constant threat, as well as a goalscorer, against Inverness last weekend, but Ciftci has started all of the European games this season. Berget did not prosper at Celtic Park but Deila expects him to want to prove a point with Malmo.

Griffiths has started the season strongly with four goals to his name already.

He said: “Of course that is his goal, but I have a good relationship with Jo Inge. I just have to bide my time”. One provides more of a cutting edge and has scored four times this season, while the other has yet to break his duck but is strong and more adept at dropping deep to link up play. “But hopefully he will have a bad night tomorrow”. He is among the 20 so we will see.

When asked if he wasn’t tempted to hold off to January when he could speak to Rangers, he added: “No, not for me”.