Celtic striker Stokes puts Euro goals drought out of his mind

Almost as much as the man likely to be asked to take the in-form Swede's place at the point of the attack, Anthony Stokes, would give to get on the scoresheet.

But while Guidetti can do nothing about his ineligibility, Stokes will be invited to do something about improving his scoring record against continental opposition.

You have to go back to the Europa League group match against Rennes on November 3, 2011, to find the only time the Republic of Ireland striker has netted in that competition or a Champions League tie.

He grabbed a double in that 3-1 home win. Since then the hitman has fired 18 blanks.

For an otherwise prolific striker who has racked up 118 goals in his 297-game career, the fact that only two of them have come in his 25 European appearances is a big anomaly.

Tonight, as Celtic play the first match in a double-header against the side struggling at the bottom of Group D, Stokes would appear to have a gilt-edged opportunity to boost his meagre Euro goals tally.

Not only would that help the Hoops get the result they need to retain their top spot in the section, it would also ensure that when the next tie comes around - in Giurgiu, Romania, on November 6 - the Irish forward's extensive drought at this level would no longer be a talking point.

Not that the laid-back 26- year-old frontman ever allows the reminders to be a source of irritation to him, even though it took Callum McGregor only five games in Europe in this, his debut season for Celtic, to surpass his more experienced team-mate's tally.

Stokes insists there is more to his game than just putting the ball in the net.

This was confirmed by his performances and overall contribution to his team's Champions League campaign last term. Which is why, when the subject of his long wait for his third goal in European club competitions is broached, he can say with genuine honesty: "It doesn't bother me at all."

Stokes explained: "I don't listen to what anyone says or read what anyone writes. I just focus on my own football.

"And I was delighted to get a couple of goals to help us beat Ross County at the weekend."

Those goals in Dingwall also ended another barren spell for Stokes, as his name had not appeared on any scoresheet since August 16 when he was on the mark in the 6-1 rout of Dundee United at Parkhead.

The quality of his finishes, beating Staggies' keeper Mark Brown twice with drives from the edge of the penalty box, made the wait worthwhile.

They reminded everyone his notable record of scoring at least 20 goals in three of his four seasons as a Celt - he was injured for half of the other campaign - is no fluke.

He is more than happy to analyse his latest long-range contributions, which showed the unerring accuracy and unstoppable power of a player with a natural gift.

The fact Stokes got his goals while being asked to play on the left of a three behind the main striker vindicated Ronny Deila's decision to banish this penalty-box predator from the central area where he is most effective and, although he will not admit it, comfortable.

"I'm just playing where the gaffer asks me to play," is the party line being offered by a man just happy to be included in the Hoops starting XI after watching yet another glut of attacking players arrive at the club during the most recent transfer window.

Of his new role, the great survivor added: "I don't mind it. I get the chance to come inside and play off the striker."

For domestic games, that striker is now Guidetti.

The big Swede has quickly established himself as a fans' favourite bordering on cult hero, even though he has only been at Parkhead for a couple of months and his status is that of loanee.

Hoops boss Deila clearly considers the Manchester City property to be his leading forward, despite having spent £2.3million to bring in Stefan Scepovic from Sporting Gijon.

The Serbian's lack of goals and form have seen him drop down the pecking order, which is why Stokes is expected to be front and centre tonight.

KRIS COMMONS' fitness will have a big bearing on the team Deila selects. Having developed an almost-telepathic understanding with the 31-year-old frontman who hit 31 goals last season, Stokes would welcome the return of the man who, like himself, has been linked with a move to Bolton that would reunite him with Neil Lennon.

But whoever starts tonight's game will be fully aware that match days three and four -when Celtic and Astra meet twice while rivals Salzburg and Dinamo Zagreb engage in their own double-header - will mark the pivotal stage of this qualification race.

So far the Romanians have suffered a 5-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia followed by a 2-1 home loss to Salzburg in a competition for which they qualified by overcoming Czech side Slovan Liberec then French team Lyon.

If they achieve back-to-back wins over Astra the Hoops would move on to 10 points.

While that would guarantee tonight's opponents could not qualify, it would offer no such assurances that Celtic would progress to the competition's knock-out rounds unless the Austrian outfit Salzburg do the double to eliminate Zagreb.

However, reaching double figures in points with a home game against Salzburg and an away match in Zagreb would put Deila's men in the driving seat in Group D.

Stokes concurs with this summation, though he insists that no-one's gaze should be permitted to wander beyond the immediate horizon.

Celtic's recent results have convinced him that is a luxury they can't afford.

He said: "The target is to beat Astra at Parkhead and set ourselves up for the return over there in a couple of weeks.

"With the way the group is, we know how important it is to get a positive result. We will do everything we can to achieve that.

"However, we can't look any further down the line than that because our form of late has been patchy.

"That said, after the way we won against Ross County, a victory tonight would give us great confidence going into the tough run of games we have coming up after this."

Another goal or two from the Irishman would also be warmly welcomed.