Celtic Welcome Astana To Celtic Park Tonight

Barcelona never really got out of first gear for the match, this was despite it being Barca’s first game back for pre-season, whilst Celtic are already into playing competitive games in the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.

Brown is optimistic as the reigning Scottish champions prepare for their return leg against Astana following a 1-1 draw in Kazakhstan.

Danish worldwide Erik Sviatchenko is out along with long-term absentees Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata.

“There have been so many players who have been linked with Celtic I can’t comment on everyone”, said the Celtic manager.

“I think he’s an unlucky guy, bless him”, Rodgers said. “He has trained well since he has come in”.

“I watched him in the last few seasons, he is a top, top defender and I thought last season he was brilliant”. “It will depend on what I feel the game needs. We’re just looking to do all we can to win and go through”. It’s still a bit swollen and we will have to wait and see.

“It’s a huge game for us but I’ve got no doubt about using his experience at some point in the game if I felt he wasn’t ready to start”.

“At the same time the referee is in charge of the game and he is the only one to make the decisions”.

‘Our ambition is to get into the Champions League.

“Kolo could start the game and last it, but it’s one of those one when, as a coach, you are thinking it might be that second or final part of the game where you need that experience to close it out”. We have put in a lot of work and what gives us the confidence is that we are working relentlessly with the team, analysing the opponents. The best players do.

“So that is how we are approaching it, we understand the magnitude of it”.

Penalty kicks in each half from Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele saw Celtic score a 2-1 victory over Astanaon the night (3-2 agg), but for a long period of the game it was squeaky bum time for the Hoops.

Five talking points ahead of the crucial encounter at Celtic Park…

The 35-year-old former Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool defender signed for his former Kop boss last week.