His manager has not admitted to any nerves ahead of tonight’s critical game against Malmo, but Scott Allan has acknowledged that he is all set for an anxious 90 minutes as Celtic seek to progress into the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

The Hoops hold a 3-2 lead going into the second leg of this tie and Allan, who does not expected to start the game, believes that watching his team-mates vie for a share of the riches – football and otherwise – of Europe’s elite competition has all the ingredients for a nerve shredding occasion.

The playmaker is desperate for the chance to feature in the illustrious competition and with just 90 minutes standing between Celtic and a golden ticket into the tournament, Allan is well aware just how tantalisingly close his new team-mates have come.

“It is exciting to be so close, but everyone wants that next step,” he said.

“I don’t expect that I will start. I hope to be in the squad but you have to hand it to the guys who have brought us to the brink of qualifying – they have been outstanding. They deserve to keep their places.

“I watched the game last Wednesday night and I couldn’t believe the way we blew Malmo away in the opening 20 minutes. The lads were outstanding. There is no reason why we can’t play like that over here.

“Why not? We believe we’re good enough.

“But sometimes I do think it can be easier to be on the pitch in nights like this. Watching from the side and knowing that you can’t actually influence the game can be torture. If the scores are still the same going into the last ten minutes I think there will be a few of us sitting on that bench who find it hard to watch.

“It is the type of game that is just win at all costs – we don’t care how we do it, we just want to be the team that goes through.”

The holy grail of the Champions League has been at the forefront of Celtic’s mind since the turn of the year.

The challenge now of producing just one final performance that can propel the club into an environment where they believe they belong is the final demand in a summer in which they have so far answered the questions put to them; of the five European qualifiers that Celtic have played they have won four, drawn one, scored 10 and conceded 3.

Allan, the latest arrival to the squad, cited the prospect of Champions League football as one of the factors in his move to the Parkhead club and he would love the chance to feature in the competition.

“I got a wee taste on Saturday coming on and making my debut,” he said. “I couldn’t wait to get out there and it was a bit special because it was at the club I came through as a kid.

“But it goes without saying that everyone wants to play Champions League football. I want the chance to bed in here, get to know the lads on the pitch and then show what I can do.

“I just want to go and get started.

“If we manage to get into the group stages as we all believe we can do, then the challenge for places will be phenomenal. I want a part of that. Like every kid growing up, that is what you want to do so to be within touching distance of achieving that is brilliant.”

Allan was assured of a warm welcome within the club after a summer in which he seemed certain to be playing his football at Ibrox this season.

A boyhood fan of Rangers, there was plenty of stick for him as he headed into the Celtic Park dressing room.

Not that it perturbed the midfielder.

“It has been great,” he said. “Put it this way, I am not so shy at giving out so I am happy to take it. There has been plenty of banter flying about but I was made to feel part of it right way.

“The guys have all been brilliant with me. It is a good dressing room and there is a good spirit within the team – you can feel it as soon as you come in.

“They made me feel welcome right away. It is a great squad of players here. Most of the guys here all play for their respective countries and you can only get better making the step up to train and play with them every day.

“So many of them have been over the course before at Champions League and international level and I think I can really develop and kick on here.

“I might have to be patient because there are so many strong players and competition for places but I am just looking forward to getting my head down and getting started.”