Petrov gives Celtic boss the lowdown on Ferencvaros ahead of European tie

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has enlisted the support of former team-mate Stiliyan Petrov as he plots the club’s Champions League progress,

As soon as it was revealed that Hungarian champions Ferencvaros will provide the latest European challenge, he was in touch with the Bulgarian, pictured, who was happy to furnish his ex-midfield cohort with inside information on the Budapest side, who will travel to Glasgow for this Wednesday’s one-off tie.

“They are a good side and I was speaking to Stiliyan Petrov about them the other night and they are quite a strong team, particularly away from home,” said the Parkhead boss. “They are difficult to break down and good on the counterattack. We are under no illusions that it will be a tricky tie, a very tricky tie.

“Stiliyan was giving me a few wee titbits on players and how they will play.”

Describing their performance against Djurgardens in the previous round as “excellent”, he said that because he had been focusing on Saturday’s league match against Dundee United he had only just turned his full attentions to the vital European tie but could rely on the insight of the man who lined up alongside him in Celtic’ run to Seville for the Europa League Cup final in 2003.

Celtic go into the tie buoyed by their impressive 6-0 mauling of Reykjavik in the previous round but, building on a strong showing in the Europa League last season, the Hungarians are expected to provide a tougher test.

They reached the group stages last term, where they drew home and away with Espanyol, travelled to Moscow to beat CSKA and took a point from the Russians at home.