Archibald fearful of champions’ confidence

ALAN ARCHIBALD fears Celtic will prove to be even more formidable opponents than usual tomorrow — despite their tiring trip to Azerbaijan in midweek. The Partick Thistle manager believes the exhilaration of knocking out Qarabag to reach the play-off round of the Champions League will only increase the Parkhead side’s menace. However, Archibald does have a new weapon to throw in Celtic’s direction, in the shape of new signing Mathias Pogba, as Thistle attempt to secure their first win over the champions for 20 years. He has yet to make a decision on whether the 6ft 4in striker will start the game but Pogba, brother of Juventus star Paul, will definitely be involved. ‘If Celtic had lost the European game, then it might have been seen as a good time to get them but, having qualified, they will be buoyant,’ said Archibald. ‘So, from our point of view, it will be tough because they will have an extra spring in their step. ‘Mathias will be involved but we are still assessing him to see if he starts. We don’t want to risk him.’ It looks like being another major moment for young defenders Jack Hendry and Liam Lindsay, who will be charged with blunting Celtic’s attacking threat, due to Freddie Frans’ suspension and Dan Seaborne recovering from injury. Hendry was supposed to go on trial at Everton last weekend but ended up playing a pivotal role in winning a fine point at Hamilton, when Thistle played with 10 men for 65 minutes. ‘There is a bit of interest from Everton and it was before Jack came on the scene on Saturday,’ added Archibald. ‘He was supposed to go down there for a couple of days, depending on what was happening last Saturday, but he was called upon by us. ‘And it’s the same this week leading into the Celtic game. ‘I think he has the potential to be a top-class centre-half. He is very composed on the ball, he has good recovery pace and he has the stature — he’s a big lad. ‘As things stand at the moment, he won’t go down there but I don’t want to stand in the boy’s way.’ Full-back Callum Booth is hoping that the Thistle defence will last longer than the 60 seconds it took to lose a goal the last time the sides met at Firhill in February. He said: ‘It was only my second game and they’d just signed Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong. They got off to a flying start. It was a hard game for us but we’ve learned from that night.’