København have Strachan's respect

Celtic FC entertain FC København knowing that victory is essential if they are to make an impact in UEFA Champions League Group F.

Strachan impressed
Gordon Strachan's side came away from Manchester United FC with plaudits but no points following their 3-2 Matchday 1 defeat, and if the role of underdog has been reversed for this fixture, the Celtic manager refuses to underestimate the Danish champions who knocked out AFC Ajax in the third qualifying round. "They won't be underdogs to us," said Strachan. "Any team that beats Ajax is not bad, so I think they've blown away that underdog tag. They have great physical strength and height in their team. We will have to try and impose our personality on the game and hopefully that will do us."

Striker wait
Strachan has one pre-match injury concern with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink struggling with an ankle knock sustained in Saturday's 2-0 derby win against Rangers FC. The Netherlands striker, who scored Celtic's first goal at Old Trafford on his 50th European appearance, told uefa.com his chances of playing are slim so Maciej Żurawski and Craig Beattie stand by to lead the attack. "We will wait, but if he can't make it we have other people who can come in," Strachan added. "We would lose a good player but have another one coming in."

Key man
Should the former PSV Eindhoven forward fail to recover it would leave the hosts short of continental experience, with just six players remaining from the squad that played AC Milan in December 2004 when Celtic last contested the UEFA Champions League group stage. However, one new recruit, left-back Lee Naylor, is convinced a seasoned campaigner such as the former Real Madrid CF midfielder Thomas Gravesen can help Celtic secure their first three points. "It's good to have players like him around the dressing room," said the ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers FC defender. "Thomas is one of the best midfielders around and will be very important for us in a game we must win."

Solbakken confidence
Jesper Grønkjær is ruled out for the visitors having aggravated a groin injury in their 0-0 opening-night draw with SL Benfica a fortnight ago, but on the plus side striker Marcus Allbäck returns from suspension and coach Ståle Solbakken is heartened by the news that Vennegoor of Hesselink might be unavailable for the Scottish champions. "If I should choose one player who wouldn't show up in the Celtic lineup it would be him," said Solbakken. "We have come here to get three points and we can manage that if we play to our best."

'Stay focused'
Goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen has already tasted the Celtic Park experience, albeit as a substitute during his time with Rangers, and he knows his team-mates face a hostile reception from a capacity 60,000 crowd. Speaking to uefa.com, he said: "We know it's going to be very difficult, especially with the crowd here, and we will need to stay focused for the whole 90 minutes to get something from the game."

Probable teams
Celtic: Artur Boruc; Paul Telfer, Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus, Lee Naylor; Shunsuke Nakamura, Thomas Gravesen, Neil Lennon, Aiden McGeady; Kenny Miller, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink/ Maciej Żurawski.

Kobenhavn: Jesper Christiansen; Lars Jacobsen, Brede Hangeland, Michael Gravgaard, André Bergdølmo; William Kvist, Michael Silberbauer, Tobias Linderoth, Hjalte Nørregaard, Atiba Hutchinson; Marcus Allbäck.