O'Neill awaits Balde verdict

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill will wait on defender Bobo Balde before finalising his side for tomorrow’s Champions League Group F clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Guinea international missed the weekend win over Hearts at Parkhead with a knee injury but he was expected to train with his team-mates at the Central Stadium tonight.

O’Neill had considered keeping Chris Sutton in defence with Joos Valgaeren and Ulrik Laursen struggling and Jackie McNamara just back from a hamstring problem.

Celtic breathed a sigh of relief when Slovakian Stanislav Varga eventually got through passport control after a hitch.

If Balde makes it, O’Neill could leave out one of his three weekend goalscorers in Juninho, John Hartson or Henri Camara depending on whether he wants to attack early.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD: Marshall, Hedman, Douglas, McGovern, Valgaeren, Balde, Laursen, Varga, Sylla, McNamara, Juninho, Pearson, Lambert, Lennon, Petrov, McGeady, Sutton, Hartson, Agathe, Camara, Wallace, McManus, Cuthbert.