Ajax vs Celtic preview - Celtic trio travel

Posted Wednesday, November 06, 2013 by PA

Georgios Samaras, Kris Commons and Mikael Lustig have all travelled with Celtic ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League game against Ajax.

Samaras (knee) and Commons (hamstring) both missed Saturday's Scottish Premiership game against Dundee United, while Lustig came off the bench having been troubled by a hip problem.

The trio will be assessed at training on Tuesday evening ahead of the clash in Amsterdam.

Asked if they will be fit to start, Hoops assistant boss Johan Mjallby said: "They should be. They are in the squad.

"We have to wait until tonight and we will watch them in training.

"It looks good. They are important players for us."

Despite being suspended, club captain Scott Brown also travelled with the rest of the squad to offer his support.

Mjallby added: "It's disappointing Scott isn't allowed to play. He's our skipper. He's the skipper of the team and he's very important in the dressing room.

"He's in great form and he has been playing really well for us this season.

"It's good for us to have a look at him in training as well."

The Dutch champions are bottom of Group H with one point from three games, two behind third-placed Celtic and four behind AC Milan with Barcelona topping the section with seven points.

Coach Frank de Boer said: ""We think we will succeed if we play the same as we did in Glasgow.

"If you look at that match we had chances and a lot of good moments.

"Celtic didn't create any chances but scored twice and won the game.

"They can be confident, they have had some good results in the last year, (beating) Barcelona for example, so they can be confident.

"But I saw good things from my side in Glasgow so I also have confidence in m team that we can get three points here and then we are one point ahead (of Celtic).

"It is a crucial game for us. For them, a draw is maybe enough so they can wait more than they did in Glasgow.

"We have to force the game but we are in good shape to create chances and get the three points."