Celtic's ability to cope with the expected physical threat posed by FC Copenhagen this evening has been plunged into question by a serious injury doubt over the powerful Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.
The Dutch striker, who has made an instant impression at Parkhead since his £3.4 million move from PSV Eindhoven and who scored in Celtic's narrow Champions League defeat to Manchester United a fortnight ago, injured an ankle in the closing stages of Saturday's Old Firm match.
Vennegoor of Hesselink was unable to train yesterday and is unlikely to play against the Danes, with the Celtic manager, Gordon Strachan, insisting there is no question of the player taking a pain-killing injection.
"Copenhagen are a big, big side and they play to their strengths, which is quite right because every squad has to use the assets at its disposal," Strachan said. "That's the good thing about European football, there are so many variations. They pose a lot of danger from set-pieces as people will see for themselves but we have to accept that and deal with it. I wouldn't consider putting out the biggest team we have available because I have to believe in what my own players can do.
"Jan is still sore but we are not in desperation because I feel our other strikers can cause problems. Jan's physical threat would be handy, I can't deny that, but I don't think the game will be a battle because teams can't get away with making it like that these days."
If Vennegoor of Hesselink fails to recover in time for the Group F encounter then Maciej Zurawski would be the favourite to partner Kenny Miller in attack, but Jiri Jarosik, despite failing to make Strachan's squad of 18 for the Old Firm match, may come into contention as he played at Old Trafford and offers a stronger physical presence than the Poland international.
Strachan admitted he had to curb his squad's excitement at training yesterday after the weekend's comfortable victory over Rangers. The former Coventry and Southampton manager added that Copenhagen's results in Europe this season - they eliminated Ajax at the qualifying stage of this competition and drew with Benfica in their opening group game - should ensure the Scottish champions and their supporters do not treat tonight's opponents lightly.
"There seems to be a team that comes out of Scandinavia every now and then who do reasonably well," he said.
"Benfica couldn't beat them and Ajax couldn't beat them and hopefully, that message gets through. Of course, we want the fans to come along and enjoy themselves but they must realise that Copenhagen are not a bad side. People who know football, know about Copenhagen."
Copenhagen, like Celtic, top their domestic league, and arrived in Glasgow yesterday with the former Aston Villa striker Marcus Allback free of suspension to spearhead their forward line. However, the former Chelsea midfielder Jesper Gronkjaer misses out because of a long-term groin injury.
The visiting manager, Stale Solbakken, emphasised the significance of Vennegoor of Hesselink's potential absence, saying:
"If I chose one player not to be in the Celtic line-up, it would be him. We are here to win and I think we are capable of getting the three points if we play to our best."
