Former Celtic striker John Hartson has labelled tonight’s Champions League showdown between his old side and Borussia Monchengladbach as a must-win game.

With matches against Barcelona and Manchester City, who are heavy favourites to take the top two places, as well as a trip to Germany to come, Hartson believes that tonight may represents Celtic’s last chance to grab a victory in the group.

He is sure that Brendan Rodgers’ men can achieve that feat, particularly if they can even get near the performance they produced when they welcomed Manchester City last time out.

“If Celtic can find anywhere near the level of confidence they did against Man City, this is a game they can win,” Hartson said.

“They will be looking for three points, naturally, with the crowd who can push them on.

"It's all about Celtic and how they perform. The players need to start well. Monchengladbach will have to take on the crowd because it is unique atmosphere. "Celtic Park, under the lights on a European night, is special. They’ll see themselves as the third best side in the group and Celtic as the worst. They play in the Bundesliga against the likes of Bayern Munich, Dortmund and Schalke.

“But from Celtic’s point of view it’s still their best opportunity to get third in the group. They have to take maximum points from this game because Germany will be difficult and the Etihad will be twice as hard and, with Barcelona to come, this might be their chance to pick up three points.

“The City game was a real spirited performance. Yes, Celtic took the lead three times and were pegged back but it was a good display.

“No disrespect to Monchengladbach, who are a good Bundesliga side, but City and Barcelona are favourites to go through. Taking all that into consideration, Celtic need to win this game if they have aspirations of finishing third.”

Hartson doesn’t think it is defeatist to suggest that Celtic are aiming for third in such a competitive group.

Knowing Brendan Rodgers as he does though, he is aware that the manager will have an eye on joining the exclusive club of Celtic managers to have guided Celtic into the last 16 of the Champions League at some point in his tenure.

Similarly, with the understanding of Celtic’s history that Rodgers has and how he covets his place within it, Hartson says that a domestic treble will be high on the Northern Irishman’s list of priorities.

“I think Brendan and Celtic is a great fit,” he said.

“It is still very early in his tenure but what he has achieved so far, with Celtic in the ascendancy, and given the money that is in the coffers, has been significant. Under Brendan, Celtic look like they are going to be the team to beat for years to come.

“The Champions League this week is a big one to look forward to, and then you’ve got the big one on Sunday against Rangers.

“I know they beat Celtic in the cup semi-final last year, but I always felt it was going to take a bit of time for Rangers. I think it is only the sort of hardcore, blinkered fans, who can’t see outside of Rangers, who think that they can challenge, given the current qualities of the two sides.

“Rangers have got a good manager with a decent pedigree in Mark Warburton. They need to build on that. They cannot think of getting anywhere near Celtic at the minute, because it is just an impossibility. I think the game at the weekend is Celtic’s to lose.

“Brendan has come in and has a semi-final he should win on the back of annihilating Rangers in the last game when it was totally embarrassing. Brendan has his opportunity to get that treble off and running. I think the league is a foregone conclusion, and then you’ve obviously got the big cup, the Scottish Cup.

“Not many managers win the treble, and Brendan will be thinking that if he can do that, it creates that little bit of history. He will want to stamp his name in the record books.”

*'John Hartson was speaking at the launch of the Hartson Foundation's Sportsman's Dinner at the Glasgow Crowne Plaza Hotel. Special guest is Neil Lennon. For more info go to www.johnhartsonfoundation.co.uk