CELTIC want their third round Champions League qualifier against Elfsborg to be a no Mo zone.

But the Hoops can't force the Swedish side to omit Mo Bangura – on loan to them from Celtic until December – from the ties.

Hoops boss Neil Lennon has made it clear he does not believe the Sierra Leone striker should line up against his parent club.

However, Elfsborg – who are 7-1 up in their second qualifying round tie against Latvian side, FC Daugava – plan to field Bangura in the game at Parkhead on July 30 or 31 and in the return in Sweden the following week.

Uefa have confirmed there is nothing in the rules which either prevents a loan player turning out against his parent club, or allowing the parent to insist on his omission, unless agreement was reached at the time of the loan being registered, which did not happen.

Lennon insisted he does not think it would be right for Bangura – who scored against Daugava in midweek – to play, and will express this view when he speaks to the player over the next few days.

He said: "According to Uefa, they can't enforce any ruling for him not to play.

"But my own thoughts are it would be very difficult for Mohamed to play.

"I think that if he took a decision in the cold light of day, he would obviously not play.

"I'd imagine he would be in touch over the next few days. I will put my point across and he can give me his opinion on it.

"But I think it would be best, in his current situation, that he doesn't get involved in the tie."

Of course, Celtic need to finish off the job against Cliftonville before they turn their thoughts to facing Elfsborg, for whom Bangura has hit six goals in 17 appearances since joining them in January.

But Lennon already knows they will be a tough opponent, and likens it to the task they faced last season when they had to defeat Helsingborgs in the qualifiers.

Elfsborg are currently fifth in the defence of their title, 15 points behind Malmo, who beat Hibs 2-0 at home in their midweek Europa League tie.

Lennon is planning to have them watched before the first leg tie and will call on Johan Mjallby's knowledge of the game in his homeland to pinpoint their strengths.

"It's a dangerous tie," said Lennon. "They have bags of experience and had a really good season last year."

Lennon will send a shadow side to Brentford for today's friendly, but has had to rule out Virgil van Dijk for another three weeks as the defender has sustained a small fracture in a foot bone.

Steven Mouyokolo will play today, but is ineligible for Tuesday's return against Cliftonville.

Gary Hooper is still on the injured list, though Lennon reports there are no developments in his transfer.

Asked if this was becoming a concern to the Hoops boss, who is looking to go out and recruit another striker, Lennon said: "It's not a concern for me, but I would imagine it will be a concern for Gary."

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Kelvin Wilson's former club Nottingham Forest have bid £1.5million to re-sign the Parkhead defender.