Battle-scared Petrov winning his fitness battle

CELTIC star Stilian Petrov is winning his fitness battle to face Celta Vigo in the UEFA Cup third round clash at Parkhead tonight.

The Bulgarian international's hopes of facing the Spanish side have been hanging in the balance since having 15 stitches in a facial wound at Livingston on Sunday.

But yesterday the news from Parkhead was more encouraging and manager Martin O'Neill is more hopeful that the influential midfielder will be in his starting XI.

"Stilian trained this morning and he is feeling better by the day," he said. "He is still pretty sore looking, but he is up for it and he wants to play.

"It looks pretty sore, but he feels better and I will give him every opportunity to play."

Petrov's determination to play is a huge relief for O'Neill, who looks set to be without Alan Thompson for the first leg. The former Aston Villa midfielder suffered a thigh strain in the weekend win at Livingston and having missed training yesterday morning he is rated extremely doubtful.

The Celtic manager's biggest decision, however, is whether to bring John Hartson back into attack and move Chris Sutton back into midfield.

The Welshman is on song at the moment and Sutton's role in the middle with Paul Lambert missing out at Ewood Park was crucial in beating Blackburn in the last round.

The Scottish champions went through after somehow winning the first leg 1-0 at Parkhead against the Barclaycard Premiership outfit after a below par display.

But the Celtic boss admits that should his side fail to rise to the occasion tonight they will not be so lucky this time.

"We would have to be alert to the early goal and if we give Celta Vigo the same sort of time to play as we gave Blackburn, then we will get punished this time so we can't afford to do that," warned O'Neill.

Celta Vigo coach Miguel Angel Lotina has big concerns over the fitness of star man Aleksandr Mostovoi but he will delay his decision until the last possible minute. The influential Russian playmaker has been picked out as the Spaniards' dangerman.

But Mostovoi has been struggling with an Achilles problem and Lotina admits it is touch-and-go whether the midfielder will face Celtic.

"I already have a team in my mind," said Lotina. "But with a doubt about Mostovoi that might change things.

He has been injured for a month and I know he's played here at this stadium with his national side before so he's thoroughly looking forward to playing here again."

Celta Vigo are currently sixth in La Liga, above Deportivo La Coruna and Barcelona, and their coach believes his side do not have to score tonight to go through.