Strachan leaves Dutch striker on the bench

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan ended days of speculation when he named his side for the Champions League Group E opener against Aalborg at Parkhead.

The Hoops boss was left with several dilemmas following their impressive 4-2 win over Motherwell at Fir Park on Saturday and, in the end, he made a couple of changes for the visit of the Danish club.

Right-back Mark Wilson was dropped for Germany international Andreas Hinkel.

Strachan went with a midfield of Shaun Maloney, Scott Brown, Barry Robson and Shunsuke Nakamura, the Japan international replacing Marc Crosas.

Georgios Samaras, with five goals in his last three games, partnered Scott McDonald with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, suspended against Motherwell, starting on the bench.

Aalborg manager Bruce Rioch, aware of his side’s fourth-seed rating in the group which also includes holders Manchester United and Villarreal, started with Marek Saganowski as their lone striker.

Celtic: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor, Nakamura, Scott Brown, Robson, Maloney, McDonald, Samaras.

Subs: Mark Brown, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Hartley, Wilson, Crosas, Loovens, McGeady.

AaB: Zaza, Beauchamp, Olfers, Jakobsen, Pedersen, Augustinussen, Curth, Johansson, Risgaard, Enevoldsen, Saganowski.

Subs: Stenild, Due, Caca, Braemer, Kristensen, Lasse Nielsen, Ronnie Schwartz Nielsen.

Referee: Matteo Trefoloni (Italy)