LONG & WINDING ROUTE

BY GRAEME YOUNG CELTIC face four qualifying rounds this season after a Champions League shake-up that sees all the big hitters from Spain, England, Germany and Italy go straight into the competition proper.

The Scottish champions will be seeded for all four rounds if they can navigate their way through some potentially tricky ties so will avoid the likes of Benfica, Fenerbahce, Ajax and Sparktak Moscow.

Celtic could face the likes of Irish champs Cork City or a trip to Tallinn to take on Flora. Crusaders are also in the pot.

The draw for the first two rounds will be partly regionalised.

What about an instant return to Glasgow for Erik Sviatchenko? Midtjylland lie in wait but they are top of the unseeded teams in that pot. There are potential pitfalls elsewhere in former foes Beer-Sheva as well as the dangerous Red Star Belgrade and Rosenborg.

Celtic could face a trip to Azerbaijan to take on the always dangerous Qarabag. Perennial qualifiers BATE Borisov are another side Celtic could potentially lock horns with.

If Celtic find their way past all of that they will face a play-off tie against some serious opponents like Apoel Nicosia and Young Boys.

And there are two very familiar foes lurking just one step from the tournament itself in Legia Warsaw and Astana.