Camara happy with Hartson partnership

Celtic 3 Dundee 0

Henri Camara is convinced that he and John Hartson can supply the ammunition to gun down Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The on-loan Senegalese hitman opened his goalscoring account for Celtic in his third start with a double in the 3-0 victory over Dundee at Parkhead yesterday, either side of the Welsh international’s fifth strike of the campaign.

Camara is flying high with confidence as he prepares to face former Parkhead favourite Henrik Larsson in the Group F encounter in Glasgow this week.

Chris Sutton is still doubtful for the game with a hamstring injury but, having gone some way to repay Martin O’Neill’s decision to make him Britain’s most expensive loan signing, the Wolves striker is confident he and Hartson can conquer Barcelona.

“I am very happy and relieved to score my first goals for Celtic,” enthused Camara. “It feels a good time to get them just before the Barcelona game.

“I have been looking for my first goal for a few weeks and it feels good that me and John both scored.

“I know Chris could have a problem in being fit for Tuesday but me and John understand each other and can both find the net against Barcelona.

“We haven’t played with each other too many times but we have already struck up a good understanding. We might not speak the same language but football talks.

“I am always confident of scoring goals and I am confident that me and John will shine again against Barcelona.”

O’Neill welcomed the new understanding between Camara and Hartson which he has no worries about unleashing on Larsson and company.

He said: “When we signed Camara I thought he was capable of scoring goals.

“He will score, miss and score but he’ll get there and if he stays clear of injury he will have a fair quota of goals by the end of the season.

“The first goal he scored was absolutely terrific and no-one will catch him when he goes clear. The second one, he stepped inside a few players and hit it.

“I am really delighted for him because that’s only his third start nd he has now scored two in front of his own crowd. That’s really good news.

“John scored his fifth of the season and we’ll see how things go. Obviously with Chris still a doubt for Tuesday I am very pleased both of them scored.”

With all the talk surrounding Larsson’s emotional return to Glasgow, it has almost gone unnoticed that Barcelona have been dealt a major blow ahead of the Champions League opener despite their 2-0 victory over Sevilla.

Midfielder Thiago Motta, who was sent off at Parkhead last season after a tunnel bust-up, will be out of action for at least six months after injuring his knee in the game.

The Brazilian-born 22-year-old had to be carried off in the third minute after he twisted his knee as he turned on the rain-sodden pitch at the Nou Camp.

“He’s ruptured both his anterior cruciate ligament and the lateral ligament in his left knee,” said club doctor Jordi Ardevol who added that the player would undergo surgery once the inflammation had died down.

The good news for Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard was that doctors said that an injury to defender Carles Puyol was not serious and that the player would be available for the game in Glasgow.

Brazilian forward Ronaldinho, who missed the Sevilla match because of an ankle problem, should also be available for the match.