Celtic will begin their Europa League campaign with a clash against Ferencvaros as the Hungarian outfit visit Celtic Park in the opening League Phase game this Thursday (kick-off: 8pm).
After being dumped out of the Champions League at the qualifying stage by LASK, Martin O’Neill’s men enter the Europa League for the second successive season, and will hope to improve on last season’s performance by securing a spot in the knockout phase.
They’ll enter the game in a despondent mood though, having lost their 100 per cent domestic record to Rangers at the weekend, where a Dan Neil double followed by Kevin Kelsy’s first goal in Scottish football knocked Celtic out of the Premier Sports Cup at the quarter-final stage.
Celtic face Rangers again in the Scottish Premiership this coming Sunday, and will see their home clash with Ferencvaros as the perfect opportunity to respond to the weekend defeat as they prepare for another battle with their rivals.
Ahead of the game at Celtic Park, The Scotsman has all the latest team news:
5. Landon Emenalo - Celtic - OUT
The on loan Chelsea left-back is currently nursing a slight knock and will be introduced into the first-team slowly. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
6. Haissem Hassan - Celtic - RETURN TO STARTING XI?
Left out of the starting line-up against Rangers at the weekend, Martin O'Neill must decide whether to reintroduce him to the side for the Europa League opener. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
7. Joel van den Berg - Celtic - INELIGIBLE
Yet to make his debut following his deadline-day arrival from PSV Eindhoven, van den Berg is not eligible to play in the Europa League this week after not being included in Celtic's squad for the competition. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group
8. Jota - Celtic - OUT
The Portuguese winger is nearing a return to fitness after a long layoff with an ACL injury having returned to training recently. He hasn't been included in the Europa League squad though, and the game would likely have come too soon in his recovery anyway. | SNS Group Photo: SNS Group