Guppy backs Agathe to frighten Basle

Steve Guppy is backing Didier Agathe to scare the living daylights out of the FC Basle defence tonight.

The Celtic winger missed the 3-1 Champions League first-leg win through injury a fortnight ago, but he is set to face the Swiss champions after coming through Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Partick Thistle.

Despite Agathe’s obvious lack of match fitness, Guppy believes his team-mate will still terrorise their opponents’ defence with his lightning pace in the St Jakob Stadium.

“His pace is enough to frighten anybody,” said Guppy. “Normally teams double up against him.

“If he does play, it will be a big boost for us. I don’t think him not playing much will be a problem. Didier’s a naturally fit lad so he can come in and pick up where he left off.

“He didn’t show any side effects on Saturday and I don’t expect him to show any tonight.”

Even if manager Martin O’Neill decides not to play Agathe, Guppy is confident the Bhoys can score the goals to guarantee their place in the lucrative group stages of the Champions League.

The former Leicester City winger added: “They played really well at Celtic Park and can count themselves unlucky they didn’t score more goals.

“I suppose in the second half we did put them under more pressure and the pressure told in the end so we will go into the game confident that we can cause them problems and score goals.”

Guppy revealed his team-mates are desperate to return to the top stage in club football after last season’s excursions.

And the midfielder is determined nothing will stand in their way – not even the intimidating atmosphere which will await them tonight.

“We’re one game away from the Champions League group stages, so it’s there for us to go for and I assure you we are desperate to do that.

“When you talk about intimidating atmospheres, we play in front if 60,000 every other week and I would be surprised if their crowd is more boisterous than that.

“I can’t imagine that to be a problem. Of course they want to score an early goal, but so do we to make it tougher for them.

“If we go out and play our normal game and play to our ability we will go through.”