Helsingborg IF vs Celtic preview - Lennon waits on quartet

Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2012 by PA

Neil Lennon will give four of his key players every chance to be ready for the first leg of Celtic's Champions League play-off against Helsingborg in Sweden.

Skipper Scott Brown (hip), striker Gary Hooper (hamstring), midfielder Paddy McCourt (groin) and winger James Forrest (groin) were among 10 players who missed the 1-1 Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw with Ross County in Dingwall on Saturday but will be assessed at training on Monday night.

Midfielder Victor Wanyama is suspended after being sent off in the second leg of the third qualifier against HJK Helsinki.

Irishman Lennon had hoped Brown, McCourt, Hooper and Forrest would all be fit for the match and assistant boss Johan Mjallby believes they are winning that battle.

He said: "We have Scott Brown, James Forrest, Paddy McCourt and Gary Hooper all travelling. We are going to train later on at the stadium and see how they are.

"Some of them were training yesterday (Sunday) and they looked good.

"I am (expecting them to be ready), it is a big game and the players want to be part of that.

"You have James Forrest with his pace, Scott Brown is the skipper, Paddy McCourt can score from nothing, more or less, and Gary Hooper has been banging in goals for us so it would be nice to have all of them fit, but we will have to wait and see."

Meanwhile, Henrik Larsson does not believe the loss of Alfred Finnbogason will affect Helsingborg's chances of overcoming Celtic.

Iceland striker Finnbogason had been on loan with the Swedes from Belgian side Lokeren, scoring 12 goals in 17 appearances since arriving in March.

It was reported that Finnbogason had agreed to a permanent move to Helsingborg before deciding to sign for Dutch side Heerenveen and he is no longer available.

Former Bhoys hero Larsson turned up at Celtic's hotel on Monday afternoon where he met Hoops manager and former team-mate Lennon, before discussing the first leg and the departure of Helsingborg's top scorer.

"They (Helsingborg) are a very good team, very sound defensively, foremost," he said.

"They lost a striker the other day, they are probably going to miss him a little bit.

"You are always going to miss goals, he has been delivering since he came but they have a big squad, a lot of players who are ready to play.

"There are a few other strikers there who are dangerous who are going to make it difficult for Celtic."