JOHN COLLINS got used to boarding a plane for a journey into the unknown when he was a Celtic player.

Trips to European football's farthest outposts brought so many problems back in the day – and that was before the action even began.

Food tended to be inedible and certainly not what was required for professional athletes before a vital European match.

The opposition was a complete mystery and, as for the hotels and pain of actually getting there, the kids of today don’t know they are born.

Next Monday morning, Celtic No.2 Collins and the rest of the travelling party will step on to a charter plane which will take them right to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Everything will be done for the first-team squad. They may have to carry their own hand luggage, but that would be about it.

By then, Celtic will have already played Qarabag FK and even before tomorrow’s first-leg tie in Glasgow, the squad will have watched hours of footage. They will be informed of who is dangerous and of any weaknesses.

It’s a far cry from 20 years ago and because of this, Collins, while accepting his team have a match on their hands, cannot fall back on the excuses his Celtic team of old could.

Collins said: "If we had the choice we would prefer a shorter journey for the away leg. But that’s the reality and we need to get on with it. There are no excuses. We will leave a day early and get settled in to get used to the place.

“With modern video analysis tools, you can quickly find out everything about your opponents. You can get all of their games live and see every goal they have scored and conceded. We can do the research. We’ll be briefing the players so they’ll know what they will be up against.

“When I was a player we never had this level of analysis, so it was a bit of a step into the unknown at times. I’ve been to places like Georgia, Belarus, Estonia and Latvia with clubs and with Scotland. Georgia was a six-hour journey. You have to overcome these things.

“But nowadays you have all the video footage, so you know what to expect.

“Sometimes it’s the heat that is the problem at this time of year, but it shouldn’t be too bad in Baku. We’re looking at about 25 degrees, so it won’t be stifling. It’s a nice stadium and pitch, and the hotel is good, so there will be a nice bed at night.

“We’ll look at the food situation and maybe take our own chef. It will be a comfortable plane. The club is very professional and there is nothing that won’t be taken care of.”

This next week or so for Celtic, their manager Ronny Deila and his players, is going to be crucial, yet we are still not into August.

Collins said: "The big games used to come at the end of the season when you have momentum and are flying.

“It’s back to front now. That’s the way it is and the way it is going to be in the Champions League.

“You just need to prepare as best you can. It’s a short break and you are back playing games. We know what’s in front of us. I am sure there will be a little bit of nerves when you go up that tunnel and on to the pitch.

“They will quickly disappear when the match kicks off. I am sure it will be exciting. We all know how important the game is.”

And Collins has gone to some lengths to get over the message that their opponents are more than decent.

He said: "They are a good football team. They have good movement, they like to knock the ball about and have pace in the wide areas. They’ve got a couple of Brazilians in the side who are very handy indeed.

“We know Qarabag did very well in the Europa League last year where they drew with Inter Milan and beat Dnipro. They had a tough group, but played well in all the matches.

“I wouldn’t want to compare them to any other team. What I can say is they are very well organised tactically. Physically they are in good shape and they have skilful, technical players. They are champions of their league so, are a good all-round team. But so are we.

“They are no mugs. We will have to play well to get through. It should be a good game. It certainly won’t be easy.”