O’Neill considering gambling on Douglas

CELTIC manager Martin O’Neill admits playing goalkeeper Rob Douglas against Dundee could set him up for his second big mistake in as many games.

The Hoops boss made no fewer than seven changes to the side which dumped Liverpool out of the UEFA Cup for their last game against First Division Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

That decision sent Celtic crashing out of the Scottish Cup, as well as taking the shine off their Anfield triumph, and O'Neill concedes he blundered by fielding a weakened side.

He must now make the decision, along with Douglas, whether or not to play the goalkeeper against Dundee tomorrow, after he was forced to pull out of Scotland's midweek Euro 2004 qualifier against Lithuania with a slight thigh strain.

Celtic could head into that game trailing league leaders Rangers by as much as nine points if Alex McLeish's men defeat Partick Thistletoday.

But O'Neill also has to consider next Thursday's UEFA Cup semi-final against Boavista if Douglas aggravates his injury, Javier Sanchez Broto's ineligibility to play in the competition and Magnus Hedman's injury would mean youngster David Marshall being thrown into a vital European tie.

O'Neill said: "It's a daily thing with Rob, he's done a little work and is feeling a bit better. I will have a chat with him tomorrow and see if he feels capable of playing in two games."

Celtic have overcome Blackburn Rovers, Celta Vigo, Stuttgart and Liverpool on their way to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup and, for the first time since their opening game against minnows Suduva, they find themselves favourites to progress.

Boavista's questionable league form this season means Celtic are tipped to earn a place in the glamour final against either Porto or Lazio in Seville. But being labelled favourites isn't a tag O'Neill feels entirely comfortable with and he was quick to point out that the Portuguese side could cause problems for his players.

"We've had our chief scout, Tom O'Neill, over there and he'll go again on Saturday.

"They lost the game he saw them play, but I don't think we'll be too fooled by that. "They have the individual talent to cause us problems, there is no doubt about that."