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Stokes signed a new three-year contract in 2013 and could command a fee of around £1.5million.

Deila acknowledged the displays of his backline duo as he said: “The central defenders were class in this game and Boyata has settled in”.

Deila was quizzed on Thursday on the absence of the player from the substitutes’ bench against Qarabag in the Champions League qualifier.

It was not one of the big European nights at Celtic Park in terms of atmosphere but the home supporters tried their best to increase the tempo amid a flat start to the match. The keeper remembers their opinion of him being altogether different 12 months ago.

Scottish champions Celtic will be eager to gain a healthy first-leg advantage when they host Qarabag in the third round of Champions League qualifying on Wednesday.

The £1.5 million summer signing from Dundee United was again preferred to last season’s top scorer Leigh Griffiths for the second-leg of the Hoops’ Champions League qualifier against Stjarnan on Wednesday night.

Domestically Celtic are a target for any team they come up against and teams will have different ideas over hoe to keep Armstrong quiet in games this season.

Celtic manager Ronny Deila is banking on the Celtic Park factor to help his side overcome Qarabag in the Champions League third qualifying round.

Despite going a goal behind to FC Stjarnan in Iceland, Ronny Deila’s men eventually ran out 4-1 winners and their reward is a trip to a country the club has never previously visited in Europe.