Bhoys buoyed by Porto win

CELTIC returned from their week-long spell in Portugal yesterday buoyed by a win away from home against Champions League regulars Porto.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink headed the only goal in the final stages to beat the 2004 European champions, who, like Celtic, go straight into the group stages this season.

The win may give manager Gordon Strachan some ground for optimism that Celtic’s atrocious away record in the Champions League can improve – they have taken just one point from a possible 45 in their group matches.

Celtic had previously needed another late header from Vennegoor of Hesselink to earn a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough, and lost 1-0 to Cardiff.

Strachan said: “Against Middlesbrough on Tuesday, our idea was to keep possession of the ball for as long as we could. It might have killed the game as a spectacle and I know that. But we’re trying to educate ourselves in how to win things when we’re away from home in Europe.”

The Celtic manager has been frustrated so far in the transfer market with only Derry winger Paddy McCourt joining the squad that finished the season as champions.

A bid for Auxerre and Romania defender Gabriel Tamas appears dead after chief executive Peter Lawwell could not strike a favourable deal.

At least one defender is sure to be on Strachan’s shortlist, especially after Celtic loaned out defender John Kennedy to Norwich, and seek to offload the highly-paid Bobo Balde.

But one player who does not appear to be on his way out is Thomas Gravesen, despite Strachan’s admission that he is unlikely to play for the first team again.

The Danish midfielder’s agent, John Sivebaek, insists the highly-paid 32-year-old will not be forced out before next summer. “Thomas has a contract and intends to see it out,” said Sivebaek.