O’Neill plays waiting game on Balde’s fitness

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill admitted he is sweating on the fitness of Bobo Balde for tonight’s crucial Champions League Group F clash with Shakhtar Donetsk after revealing both Joos Valgaeren and Ulrik Laursen were major injury doubts.

Guinea international Balde missed the weekend win over Hearts at Parkhead with a knee injury.

With only experienced defenders Stanislav Varga and Jackie McNamara fit, O’Neill is desperate for the giant to declare himself fit.

“Joos Valgaeren and Ulrik Laursen would be struggling to make [tonight],” sighed O’Neill. “So we will see how he is.”

O’Neill had considered keeping Chris Sutton in defence after his man-of-the-match performance at the weekend, but admitted he would prefer him in a more attacking role.

“Chris has obviously shown his versatility to play in a number of positions for us,” added O’Neill.

“That is good news for us but we will see how Bobo is first of all before making that sort of decision.

“Chris played well at the weekend but I would prefer him playing further up the field. He will go back there, or at least I hope he will go back there willingly.”

Despite two opening defeats to Barcelona and AC Milan and his injury concerns, O’Neill is still confident going into the game.

Something has to give with both teams on zero points but Celtic need to avoid defeat just to have a chance of securing a UEFA Cup place.

It could be said that luck has again deserted them - this time on the eve of a big game - but the jovial Northern Irishman was far from making any excuses.

“Not everybody is fit to play but we will be upbeat because it is as big a game for us as it is for them,” he said.

“We don’t have points on the board yet between us and that is obviously going to change. It is a very big game for both sides.

“It is a step up from the normal domestic scene and we accept that and it is frustrating to be going into a game like this not at full strength.

“You do prefer it if all players are available but we will go into this one fearing nothing.

“Shakhtar are a talented team and have a number of top-quality players playing for them. They have so much strength in the side and have spent a lot of money,” he added.