SO, then, are Linfield about to join the ranks of Neuchatel Xamax, Artmedia Bratislava and Lincoln Red Imps?

Three names which will always send a shiver down the spine of any Celtic supporter, especially those unfortunate to have witnessed the defeats, and while at least the odd night in Gibraltar didn’t in the end matter much, the other two Europeans ties were genuine humiliations.

These things can and have happened.

However, there is not much appetite even in Northern Ireland to suggest the Scottish champions won’t ease part the Northern Ireland treble winners without too much trouble. Famous last words and all that.

But just how good are Linfield? Well, Hearts thumped then 4-1 at the weekend and while that was a friendly, it gives an indication of the gap which should exist between our teams and those from across the water.

Jordan Allan is a Scottish professional footballer who spent 18 months in Northern Ireland, first with Derry City who play in the southern league, and then on loan to Coleraine, a club in the NIFL Premiership.

Now with Dumbarton, Allan is perfectly placed to speak about Linfield because he faced them several times last season, with differing fortunes, and while he could not write off the Belfast men giving Celtic something to think about at Windsor Park, he couldn’t envisage a true shock taking place.

“When Linfield want to be they are a good football team,” said Allan. “They are a strong side and have experience throughout. However, Celtic will be too strong for them over two legs. I can’t see it any other way to be honest with you.

“What some people might not realise is that the Northern Irish teams are part-time. I trained twice a week with Coleraine while the bigger clubs, Linfield and Crusaders, will go in three times. That makes a big difference over there although we still finished third.

“I’m not me saying Linfield have no chance. They could give Celtic some problems at Windsor Park and do have momentum. They weren’t really going for anything all season and then come April everything clicked and they went on to win the lot.

“We played them in the cup final and got battered. On their day, as we saw, they are really good. Coleraine hadn’t been in the final for ten years and so we were nervous. They weren’t and dominated us from the start.”

Allan and his team were to get some joy against the giants from Belfast on a famous night at Windsor Park.

“Coleraine hadn’t won there in a long time and we battered them that night. I scored a header past Roy Carrol late in the game and it ended 1-0 to us.

“In saying that, they did later slaughter us 5-1 at home and then did us in the final, so they can play a bit.”

Allan believes the Linfield players will have been full-time for this game “David Healy will have had them in every day because it’s Celtic” and the lack of away support might have an effect. However, can you, for example, see Scott Brown feeling uneasy at being booed? Not a chance.

So who should Celtic be looking out for when Friday eventually comes around?

“Their captain, Jamie Mulgrew, is still a good player,” said Allan. “He’s getting on a bit now but can read the game really well. Andrew Waterworth is their best chance of a goal. He scored a hat-trick against us in the final.

“What I would say about him is that he does get his goals laid on a plate. Linfield are set up to provide him with good service and, to be honest, some of his chances would be more difficult to miss.

“There’s a young lad Paul Smyth who has a great chance of making it. He caught my eye when we played against him.

“And Aaron Burns, a really tall lad, is someone who can play a bit as well. But in a game one of our lads absolutely smashed him. I mean he really went through the guy. After that he didn’t want to know.”

Celtic supporters know not to take anything for granted in Europe but this is one tie which really should be negotiated without anything sill happening.

As Allan said: “The standard over there is decent and for Linfield this is as big as it gets, but Celtic are Celtic and you can’t ignore that.”