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ROSENBORG will know all about Leigh Griffiths but Scott Sinclair is convinced the hitman can still be Celtic’s Champions League surprise package.
The Norwegians could have a dossier like a doorstop on the Hoops main man but it wouldn’t do them much good.
It’s the Scotland star’s ability to do the unexpected that Sinclair reckons makes his return to fitness such a big boost to Celtic’s European hopes.
Griff trained yesterday morning before hopping on to the plane with the team for the short trek to Trondheim for tonight’s second leg.
If absence makes the heart grow fonder, the striker is feeling the love right now.
There’s not much point second guessing Griffiths, though. He’s about as easy to predict off the pitch as he is on it and having got himself suspended for the first leg, there was another tale of the unexpected as it turned out he was crocked anyway.
Brendan Rodgers had to grin and make do but Sinclair admitted it’s a timely tonic to have Celtic’s man of mystery on board for the make-orbreak tie. Sinclair said: “It’s always great to see him out here. You see what he brings to the team.
“It’s just the way Leigh plays. He’s so unpredictable. He turns, gets his strikes off and scores goals. That’s what you want from him.
“He has rushed back to get fit so hopefully we will see him scoring goals. He’s looking sharp in training – it’s just great to have him back.
“You see what he brings to the table – he’s such a goal threat. It can be shooting from outside the box or making runs in behind, he’s such a good striker.”
Griffiths back in business is an undoubted boost but Celtic have refused to panic despite the injury crisis of the last week.
Previous Hoops squads have gone into away matches like they were walking the plank but there was a relative calm in the group as they gathered at Glasgow Airport yesterday.
Sinclair didn’t look a bag of nerves, that’s for sure. He knows what is at stake and he’s well aware of what Celtic need to do.
He also doesn’t buy the CELTIC face Rosenborg for the sixth time in Europe tonight, having won three of the contests. Here is the history of the meetings: CELTIC 2, ROSENBORG 1 EC, 1st rd, 1st leg, Sep 1972
Lou Macari broke the deadlock in 16 minutes and Dixie Deans doubled the advantage but Bjorn Wirkola pulled one back four minutes after the interval. suggestion the Norwegians will come out of their shells in Trondheim.
Sinclair said: “I don’t think they will underestimate us, they will know what we can bring.
“We expected them to come and sit in. They did create a couple of chances but they didn’t cause us too many problems. It’s down to us.
“I still think they will sit in as much as they did at Celtic Park. It’s going to be a tough game.
“But if we create a lot of chances, maybe get an early goal, then we can do well.
“I don’t think they will come out. They’ll play similar to last week. It can be frustrating but if we score early it can really open up the game.
“Most importantly, we know we can score goals.
“Hopefully we’ll control the game and grab a few.
“In football you need to adapt. We didn’t have any strikers last week and had to try a few things. We had James Forrest up front against Sunderland and he did unbelievably well.
“The gaffer comes up with all kinds of ‘what if ?’ scenarios and it’s up to us to adapt and try to play our normal game.”
This is uncharted territory for Sinclair. He’s used to easing himself into a new season then finding his feet.
At Celtic you need to hit the CELTIC’S 0-0 draw against Rosenborg last week was their fifth first-leg stalemate in European ties at Parkhead.
They have progressed twice after scoreless home games. Here is the history: CELTIC 0, VEJLE BK 0
(European Cup 2nd Rd, October 24, 1973) JOCK STEIN’S side served up a shocker against the Danes despite Jimmy Johnstone, Kenny Dalglish and Bobby Lennox playing up front.
Celtic relied on a single strike from veteran Lennox in the second leg to get them into the next round. CELTIC 0, ATL MADRID 0
(European Cup Semi-final, April 10, 1974) ONE of the most sensational European ties ever seen at Parkhead saw the Spaniards finish the game with eight ROSENBORG 1, CELTIC 3 (agg: 2-5); 2nd leg, Sep 27 Jan Christiansen struck to level on aggregate. Macari equalised and Harry Hood and Kenny Dalglish eased Celtic through. CELTIC 1, ROSENBORG 0 CL groups, Oct 10, 2001 A superb dead-ball effort from Alan Thompson in the 21st minute gave Celtic their first-ever win in the group stages. ground running and the biggest match of the term is taking place days before a ball is kicked in anger in the domestic campaign.
It’s a whole new ball game but the attacker would rather be hit with crunch clashes in early August than gearing up for another slog to get a game down in England.
Sinclair said: “When you play for Celtic there are massive games every week. The boys are used to this and we go into it prepared.
“The boys work well with all the characters in the squad. We’ll play our normal game. The main thing is to win.
“I’m sure Rosenborg were happy with the draw at Celtic Park but the thing for us is that we must concentrate on ourselves. I’m sure we’ll keep possession over there, create chances and hopefully get goals.
“Every player in the team is so confident. We are positive we will get the job done and go into the next round.
“This can set up the whole season – and that goes to show where we are as a team.
“Everyone around the club and all the fans are expecting us to go through to the next round and into the group stage.
“We were always focused on getting into the Champions League and that’s what we are looking at now.” players after three were sent off and another five booked.
The Madrid side won 2-0 in the return with two goals in the final 13 minutes. CELTIC 0, ST PATRICK’S 0
(Champions League Qual 1st Rd, July 22, 1998) JOZEF VENGLOS made his debut in the dugout, taking over from Wim Jansen.
The new Hoops boss didn’t make a great first impression but goals from Harald Brattbakk and Henrik Larsson in the return saw the Parkhead side through. CELTIC 0 AC MILAN 0 (Champions League Rd of 16, Feb 20, 2007) GORDON STRACHAN’S team had come through a group containing Man Utd, Benfica and FC Copenhagen.
Milan boasted Kaka, Andrea Pirlo and Paolo Maldini but it took until extra time in the return before the Brazilian got the only goal. ROSENBORG 2, CELTIC 0
CL groups, Oct 23 Harald Brattbakk came back to haunt Celtic to leave their qualification hopes hanging by a thread. CELTIC 0, ROSENBORG 0 CL qualifier, Jul 26, 2017 Celtic went into the tie without Moussa Dembele and Leigh Griffiths and as a result Rosenborg keeper Andre Hansen enjoyed a largely comfortable night.