Alashkert, Valur, Rosenborg, great to be back

I have loved my summer of football but it is great to be heading to Celtic Park on Champions League qualification duty tonight.  Better still, that we took care of the tie in Armenia, so that familiar knot in the stomach we often get at this time of year will not manifest tonight.

Alashkert will want to get this game over with but for Celtic it is another step in our fitness preparation for the three greater qualification challenges that lie ahead.

During the first half, we will have an eye on how Valur are getting on against Rosenborg in Trondheim.  The winners face Celtic in the next round*.  The Icelanders have a 1-0 lead to defend.

We are still preseason, and therefore likely to pick up injuries, so nothing heroic, Celtic.

*caveat acknowledged.