Strachan striker dilemma as Celts wary of dangerous Danes

CELTIC manager Gordon Strachan is sweating over the fitness of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink ahead of their Champions League match against Copenhagen.

The Dutch striker, 27, suffered an ankle injury in the dying minutes of Saturday’s 2-0 Old Firm triumph over Rangers at Celtic Park.

Despite finishing the game, he is now feeling the effects of the knock and has been rated a doubt for Celtic’s first home game in the group stages of the tournament.

That means Strachan could be forced to turn to Maciej Zurawski or Derek Riordan — but the manager says he will give Vennegoor of Hesselink every opportunity to prove his fitness.

“The ankle is a bit sore and puffy,” said Strachan. “We will wait until tomorrow morning but, if he can’t make it, we’ve got people like Magic (Zurawski) and Deeks (Riordan).

“We’d lose a good player but we’ll have another one coming in. I would like him to play because it’s a winning side at the moment and he’s doing well. But I’m not desperate. If I was desperate, I would make him play and put pressure on him but there is no pressure whatsoever.”

Vennegoor of Hesselink has been an instant success since his switch from PSV last month, with one of his three goals so far coming in their Champions League opener against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

If he misses out, fans will be expecting Kenny Miller to provide goals in his absence after the former Rangers and Wolves striker finally broke his duck for Celtic with a strike in Saturday’s 2-0 win.

Strachan revealed Miller was not the only player brimming with confidence when the team reported to Parkhead yesterday morning.

“We had to bring them down to earth at training this morning because there is a big game tomorrow,” he said. “In one way, you want them bubbling but you’ve got to tell them what the reality is as well.”

Celtic may be favourites to pick up their first three points tonight.

But Copenhagen disposed of Ajax in the qualifiers, before holding Benfica to a goalless draw in their first group stage game.

Strachan believes there are plenty of reasons to be wary of the Danes. He said: “People who know football, know about Copenhagen. Benfica and Ajax are big names, no doubt about it, and they haven’t beaten Copenhagen.

“They won’t be underdogs to us. The result in Amsterdam wasn’t bad so I think they’ve blown that underdogs tag away themselves. They can’t be underdogs.”

But Copenhagen can also expect a tough game with Strachan vowing Celtic will not sit back following the exertions of the first Old Firm match of the season.

“No, you go for it,” he said. “You play at the tempo you’re used to and you try to win the game.”