TALKING CELTIC

Buoyed by their presence in the group stage of the Champions League last term, Astana will be a formidable test for Celtic.

Roberts was man of the match last week when the embarrassing first-leg against Lincoln Red Imps was somewhat rectified with a more assured display against the Gibraltar lightweights, but this week the bar is being raised considerably.

Three years ago Neil Lennon’s side took on Shakhter Karagandy on the same pitch they will be playing on this Wednesday. It will be another plastic surface in sweltering temperatures, but Roberts believes that Celtic will be ready for the encounter.

“The club are very professional and we will do all the right things to be prepared.

“We know the importance of being hydrated and sleeping at the right times and the fact we are going out a few days early will hopefully mean that there isn’t any real issue with tired- ness. The plastic pitch is never ideal but there isn’t anything we can’t do about it.

“We have to get on with it and hopefully try to get a positive result.

“If we can do that then I think we would fancy our chances in Glasgow, but just now it is about making sure we focus completely on this game.”

Roberts didn’t play in the first leg match against the Red Imps in because of the surface and it remains to be seen whether he will feature against Astana, for the same reasons.

THE winger chose to stay in Glasgow this summer rather than board the plane with the England Under-19 squad to the European Championships in Germany because he wanted to help the club get into the group stage of the Champions League.

And he remains convinced it was the right thing to do.

“I played here the other night