NICKLAS BENDTNER knows what it is like to sample a European glory night at Parkhead.
The Rosenborg striker was in the Arsenal line-up that beat Celtic 2-0 in a Champions League play-off first leg in the east end of Glasgow in August 2009.
William Gallus and an own goal from Gary Caldwell piled on the misery for Tony Mowbray during his short and ill-fated reign as Hoops boss.
Bendtner was in Arsene Wenger’s side again when the Gunners completed the job with a 3-1 triumph in London.
Now his skipper Mike Jensen is tipping the 29-year-old Danish international to enjoy another evening at the home of Brendan Rodgers’ treble-winners.
The experienced midfielder said: “Nicklas is the one guy we have who has the special qualities to beat Celtic.
“He knows what it’s like to play in front of a crowd like that.
“He has the technical and physical skill to do something extraordinary in the game.
“I expect him to be a leading player against Celtic. That’s what he’s here for and he knows that.
“He’s capable of doing it. He will enjoy these games – he’ll feel as if it’s his stage to show what he can do.
“He might not always succeed, but that’s his attitude.
“Nicklas isn’t afraid of anything, he doesn’t get nervous.
“He’s used to pressure because he has had it his whole life, since he was 19 playing for Arsenal and Denmark.
“So, he’s always happy – he doesn’t take the pressure seriously. But he’ll
see it as a good opportunity to remind people that he’s still a top player.”
Episode 5 of The CQN Podcast: A Celtic State of Mind comes hot on the heels of one of the club’s most controversial European ties in recent memory.
* What now for the Green Brigade?
* Dedryck Boyata – Are reinforcements on route?
* Virgil van Dijk – The windfall cometh;
* Farewell to Emilio Izaguirre.
Listen to the latest episode here:
