Celtic gunning for Blackburn

CELTIC youngster Shaun Maloney claimed yesterday that what he sees as the arrogance of the English would fire up his team-mates in the Battle of Britain.

The Scottish champions were paired with Graeme Souness’ Blackburn in the second round of the UEFA Cup, avoiding easier ties.

Maloney admits it was the most mouth-watering pairing to come out of the pot, but he is still hungry for success.

He said: ‘‘You could say that it’s just another tie, but to be honest the Scotland-England thing will make it a bit special.

‘‘I’m just hoping to be involved and, if I keep on working hard, you never know.

‘‘No matter what level you’re playing the English at, you always know that they think the football up here in Scotland is inferior to what’s on offer down south.

‘‘That just makes you all the more keen to prove them wrong, and hopefully we’ll be able to do that when the tie comes around.

‘‘Obviously it’s down to the luck of the draw in these situations, but I think Blackburn were the team that jumped out at everyone when the pots were announced.

‘‘It’s certainly a very tasty fixture for the fans, and I imagine they’ll already be looking forward to it.’’

Maloney remembers the last time Celtic crossed swords with English opposition when Liverpool beat them on away goals in 1997.

The 20-year-old admits that Blackburn have an abundance of talent, but he claims they will not be relishing facing the Hoops.

‘‘We’ll obviously go in hopeful of beating them, but Blackburn are a good team,’’ Maloney added.

‘‘They’re certainly not short of good players with the likes of Damien Duff, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke about the place, and we’ll go in expecting a really tough game. But we also have a few players they won’t fancy playing against, and we have no reason to fear anyone.’’

Celtic team-mate Jackie McNamara has also expressed his delight after hearing the second-round draw.

‘‘It’s a fantastic draw,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s good for our supporters and it’s one we’re happy with.

‘‘Obviously with Graeme Souness there that will be the talking point. It won’t be just Celtic and Blackburn either, the whole of Britain will be looking forward to it.’’

Souness will come up against his old enemy after spending a number of seasons as player and manager at Rangers.

It will also be a special double-header for Celtic striker Chris Sutton, who will be up against his former club.

McNamara, however, is confident that the Glasgow side can go through if they keep a clean sheet at Parkhead on October 31.

The versatile Celtic player insisted: ‘‘We will try not to concede at home and if we do that then we have got a good chance of going down there and doing something.’’

Maloney, meanwhile, has been forced to withdraw from the Scotland U21 squad after being advised to avoid aggravating a niggling groin problem which has been troubling him for some time.

‘‘My groin has been bothering me for about a month now, and I’ve been told that the only cure is rest. But I’m hopeful that, with a bit of treatment, I should be fine for the Hearts game.’’