JASON DENAYER will be fit to take his place in the heart of the Celtic defence for the second leg of the Europa League tie against Inter Milan in the San Siro on Thursday.
The Belgian missed the second-half of the 4-0 win over Hamilton at Parkhead this afternoon, but Ronny Deila isn’t too concerned. The Hoops boss confirmed the 19-year-old Manchester City loanee merely had a touch of cramp and he didn’t want to risk him ahead of the Euro test.
Deila admitted: “I’m delighted. Good game, more than 70% possession and Hamilton did not have one finish, but they are hard to play against when they play so deep.
“We created chances in the first-half and, in the end, we won in a good way. We are looking forward to going to Milan. It is a tough task, but everything is possible and I see an opportunity there. We have to find that balance between attacking and defending because we need to score there. Jason is okay, he just had a bit of cramp in his calf.”
Kris Commons sparked the goal rush on his return from injury as Celtic scored four goals in 25 second-half minutes and the midfielder is desperate to be involved in the San Siro.
He said: “Obviously, after being out for two weeks, it’s always nice to come back get the three points, a clean sheet and get on the scorehseet.
“I can’t wait and, hopefully, I have done enough to get in the starting eleven. Whenever you play away in Europe it’s always a tough test and if we can get a good result out there, it would be a huge achievement.
“We know it’s going to be a very difficult task, they are a good team, very experienced. I think we will get chances and, hopefully, on the night we can keep them at bay and try and not give them many chances, but it’s good that the boys have given us the chance to go over there and get a win.”
After the game, Accies player-boss Martin Canning said: “Celtic dominated possession, but that was always going to be the case when you come here. When you lose the first goal, it becomes difficult and then you lose three players, including myself through injury, these things mount up.”
CELTIC’S Europa League second leg tie against Inter Milan in the San Siro stadium on Thursday will kick off at 6pm.
The last 32 encounter, locked at 3-3 after a dramatic stalemate at Parkhead last week, will be beamed live by BT Sport.
MEANWHILE former Celtic target Martin Odegaard fired his first goal for Real Madrid, scoring for the club’s B side against Barakaldo.
The 16-year-old Norwegian wonderkid, who was introduced to first team football at Stromgodset last season by Ronny Deila, took just seven minutes to make his mark to open the scoring in his side’s 4-0 win.
Odegaard said: “It’s great to score my first goal here. It’s been amazing,
“Zinedine Zidane is a great coach, I feel very comfortable here. It’s easy training with the best players in the world.
“Carlo Ancelotti is the best coach for Madrid and a great person, everyone can learn something from him.”
Deila has admitted there is a possibility the SPFL champions may make an effort to land the teenager on loan in the future.
