CHRIS SUTTON has warned Celtic to be on their guard against LASK in Austria as they prepare for the second leg of their Champions League Play-Off in Austria on Tuesday evening.
Despite Martin O’Neill’s side’s eye-catching 3-0 triumph at Parkhead in the first leg during the week, the former Hoops goal hero has told them: “Don’t be fooled.”
Sutton admitted he was still anxious about what his old club can expect to face in Linz as both teams go head-to-head again in the £40million winner-takes-all tussle to earn the right to perform among Europe’s elite at the next stage.
Analysing the situation, the one-time England international frontman said: “It could scarcely have turned out better for Celtic in their Champions League first leg the other night.
“But Martin O’Neill was spot on to urge caution after the 3-0 win against LASK. Celtic’s work is NOT done – on or off the pitch.
EURO STAR…Benjamin Nygren races away in triumph after lashing in Celtic’s first goal against LASK. Mika Baur and Yang Hyun-jun are about to join in the celebrations.
“It was a brilliant night at Celtic Park on Wednesday and a tremendous result. I thoroughly enjoyed the game and I’m sure supporters would have loved it, too.
“That’s exactly what they want to see from their team. Big players producing big moments, playing thrilling football at times and digging in at others.
“The three goals were absolutely sensational. Benjamin Nygren’s technique for the first was sublime and Camilo Duran’s finishing was top drawer.
“It’s still early days, but Duran looks like a proper player. He plays in a different role, but he’s got a hammer of a left foot that reminds me a little of Alan Thompson’s lethal left peg.
“Kasper Hogh might not have got the headlines, but he was also really impressive with his hold-up and link play, winning balls and buying free-kicks, it was a proper no.9 display.”
Sutton, speaking to the Daily Record, continued: “The thing that stood out for me was the threat Celtic now pose. It’s light years away from the laboured scenes of 12 months ago against Kairat.
“It just shows you what can happen when you bring in quality players – they can change games with moments of brilliance.
“Yet, despite all this, I’m still wary going to Austria.
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE NEW BHOY…Camilo Duran celebrates his second goal to give the Hoops a 3-0 adavantage over LASK before Tuesday’s second leg in Austria.
“LASK are a very decent side and they caused Celtic plenty of problems. They probably walked away wondering what the heck happened the other night.
“We’ve seen the shoe on the other foot often enough with Celtic, but they will feel hard done by, with a couple of goals ruled out and several other chances.
“That’s the concern for this second leg. A three-goal lead looks comfortable, but don’t be fooled.
“I remember going to Stuttgart in the Seville season with a 3-1 lead and we scored two early goals over there to lead 5-1.
“The tie should have been dead and buried, but we ended up hanging on in the end to squeeze through 5-4.
“In more recent times in Be’er Sheva, Brendan Rodgers came out afterwards looking like he’d seen a ghost following a 5-2 first leg win evaporated in Israel and it was another nerve-shredding end.
“Likewise 12 months later in Astana when a five-goal start still led to an incredibly tense spell out in Kazakhstan.
“So, forgive me for not thinking it’s a feet-up job just yet.”
The media pundit added: “O’Neill is not a man to make public demands, but there was a telling comment after the game about Celtic being in the plus side this summer in terms of his spending and wage bill. He’s right.
“A lot has been made of them investing almost £30million in the team – but they have also brought in £35million in sales, and the sheer volume of departures will have brought down the wage bill.
“O’Neill needs more reinforcements. It’s too late now regarding the second leg against LASK and I suspect they might wait to see if they do get to the Champions League before deciding just how big they go in the remainder of the window.
“If they can get there, though, Celtic do have to get serious. Have they got enough already to cope with the Premiership?
“Maybe so. The ambitions have to be higher, though. Making an impact in Europe has to be the aim.
DANGEROUS DANE…Kasper High’s performance against LASK impressed former Celtic goal hero Chris Sutton.
“They can’t just get to the group stage and be happy to turn up, collect the cash and say thank you very much.
“They need to compete. To do so, O’Neil will need further additions.
“I was impressed with Mika Baur the other night, but Arne Engels still has to be replaced as Celtic’s midfield is too lightweight.
“It was encouraging to see Reo Hatate come off the bench in determined mood.
“However, there is a suspicion he could leave and if he does that means Celtic will need two more in there, at least.
“We know Kieran Tierney needs support at left-back and it looks like Landon Emenalo could be on his way on loan from Chelsea.
“On the other side, Colby Donovan deserves a lot of credit and they also have Anthony Ralston there.
“But if Alistair Johnston is going to be out for a prolonged spell again, I do think action will be required.
“Celtic have got one foot in the Champions League, but they are still very much a work in progress.”
So, Celtic prepare to step onto the tightrope yet again – just one game and 90 minutes away from mixing again with the creme de la creme of European football after last year’s utterly dismal display against the minnows of Kairat Almaty.
Ironically, the scoreline that miserable evening in Kazakhstan – an awful scoreless stalemate – would be welcomed on Tuesday.
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