Celtic will unleash their deadliest weapon on Khazak opponents tonight as they attempt to overcome a two goal deficit and qualify for the group stages of the Champions League.<\/p>\n
You.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The thunder should return to the east end of Glasgow and the following storm is expected to blow the hoops through the last stage of a long qualifying campaign, so we can all finally relax and look forward to top class football until Christmas at least, and we can worry about those games when they happen.<\/p>\n
Beram Kayal won’t play, Kris Commons won’t train before the game, but might play, while Stokes, Samaras , Boerrigter and Forrest will all train, but will face a last minute decision if they play.<\/p>\n
Heres hint number one for Lennon. Don’t pick anyone who isn’t 100% fit. Tonights game needs to be at a high tempo, and all fourteen players should be used, and they all have to be in tip top condition.<\/p>\n
Fraser Forster has been picked for the latest England squad, which must make great reading for Gary Hooper, and consequently should up his game. Mikael Lustig and Emilio Izzaguerre at full back, with Efe Ambrose and Charlie Mulgrew at the back. That leaves Adam Matthews, Scott Brown, Joe Ledley , \u00a0Tom Rogic and Georgios Samaras in the middle, reading right to left across the pitch, with Anthony Stokes , if fit, up front, and Amido Balde if he isn’t.<\/p>\n
Matthews in the middle should keep the midfield stronger, and he’s more than capable of playing the forward role as well.<\/p>\n
Ambrose was much improved against Inverness, and Mulgrew is best used at the back, covering Izzaguerres forays and using his height and strength to combat the aeriel threat. Both players are capable of bringing the ball out as well, which saves on losing possession with the punt clear.<\/p>\n
All of the five midfielders can tackle and spring forward, whilst Stokes, along with Rogic and Ledley, will both shoot on sight, which is the main alteration to the tactics needed for this game.<\/p>\n
Dump the sidieways shuffle. Go for goal.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Thats what it looks like , complete with the ball in an acceptable position.<\/p>\n
Neil Lennon has spoken of the need for patience, and an early goal isn’t overly crucial. In a sense he is right, it doesn’t matter when the goals come, as long as there are three more Celtic goals than Shakhter goals. The worry though, is that any nervousness in the crowd will be passed to the players should it remain at 0-0 for longer than say, six minutes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Fortunately, beer will be available at the usual outlets , and it can be a marvellous sedative if consumed in the right amounts. At most games, the guys who travel with me tend to get the volume correct, as they have usually nodded off by half time.<\/p>\n
Speaking ahead of tonights match, when asked if victory would be sweet, Neil Lennon was surprisingly calm;<\/p>\n
\u2018It would be, considering\u00a0 everything that has gone on in the last six or seven weeks,\u2019 he mused. \u2018The amount of qualification games we have had to play, and off the back of what\u00a0 happened last week as well.<\/p>\n