Strachan: long-term progress name of the game

CELTIC’S chances of Champions League success will be seriously damaged if they do not beat Benfica tonight but boss Gordon Strachan is also looking at his side’s long-term progress.

Strachan’s young squad are bottom of Group D but are only three points off leaders AC Milan, whom they face in the San Siro in their final group game.

With Celtic taking only one point from their previous 14 group games on the road, anything less than maximum points against the Portuguese side and Shakhtar Donetsk in Glasgow would leave them with an uphill struggle.