SAMARAS/WATT says RONNIE CULLY

PROVIDED he recovers from his toe injury, Georgios Samaras must be a first pick.

But, to be at his most effective, he has to be allowed to start his runs from the left, which means someone else takes the central position in attack.

Faced with a packed and deep-sitting defence, speed will not be the asset, and striking instincts will be the key.

With Gary Hooper gone, Anthony Stokes best fits the bill. But, the indications are the calf injury which ruled him out at the weekend might not be resolved.

Amido Balde has not shown anything to indicate he is the penalty-box predator with a nose for a half-chance required for this job.

So Tony Watt, with Kris Commons operating directly behind, could be the men to make another European impact.

 

SAMARAS/COMMONS says GRAEME MacPHERSON

INJURIES will dictate what options are open to Neil Lennon but, needing to overturn a two-goal deficit, his line-up against Shakhter Karagandy will need to be attacking regardless of the personnel available to him.

If Anthony Stokes misses out, as seems likely, Lennon should turn to Georgios Samaras and Kris Commons to provide the goals Celtic need to make it through to the Champions League group stage.

Neither can be considered an out-and-out centre-forward but Samaras has become such a key figure in Europe for Celtic that it seems unthinkable that he won't start.

As well as providing a goal threat, Samaras is also good at holding up play and bringing others into the game.

Commons could be deployed just behind him as an advanced No.10 but urged to get into the penalty box whenever possible.

The likes of Amido Balde and Tony Watt, who both started on Saturday, should be on the bench in case more firepower is needed late in the game.