Aiden McGeady set for European start despite transfer talk

NEIL LENNON will disregard transfer speculation surrounding Celtic's prize asset Aiden McGeady and include him in his starting line-up for tonight's Champions League third qualifying round, first leg match against Braga in Portugal.

•Israeli international midfielder Biram Kayal arrives in Glasgow yesterday for contract negotiations with Celtic, who have agreed a fee of about 1.2m with the 22-year-old's club Maccabi Haifa Picture: SNS

McGeady has not featured in any of Celtic's pre-season fixtures and was left out of their tour to North America because of a thigh injury. The 24-year-old Republic of Ireland winger is understood to be keen on a move away from the club and has been strongly linked with Aston Villa.

Celtic are believed to have placed a value of up to 12 million on McGeady which would assist in the squad rebuilding process being carried out by manager Lennon who yesterday completed his sixth summer signing with the 2.4 million capture of striker Gary Hooper from Scunthorpe United.

But Lennon, who admitted last month that he anticipated the likelihood of losing McGeady during the current transfer window, has no intention of leaving the player on the sidelines to guard against any potential injury which may scupper his sale.

Lennon has confirmed that, barring instructions from chief executive Peter Lawwell which inform him McGeady's transfer has been negotiated, he intends to play him tonight. "Unless I'm told differently, Aiden is playing on Wednesday night, simple as that," said Lennon. "Unless something happens in the next 24 hours or so, then he will play.

"I don't know if it's going to get over the line in terms of a deal being done for him or not. So he has to put that to the back of his mind and concentrate on playing for us. He is still a Celtic player. I have to put out the best team I can, or what I think is the best team, and he is one of our best weapons.

"I've not spoken to Aiden about his situation since we came back from America. As far as I'm aware, it hasn't really changed that much. There was an offer on the table four or five weeks ago from the Spartak Moscow, but nothing has happened."

Lennon is also unconcerned by McGeady's lack of any pre-season game time.

"He is a fit boy anyway, naturally fit, so I don't think it will be a major gamble for him to start," added Lennon. "Aiden just likes playing football."

While Hooper signed just in time to take his place on the flight to Portugal yesterday, Celtic also moved a step closer to recruiting Israeli international midfielder Biram Kayal from Maccabi Haifa. The 22-year-old arrived in Glasgow yesterday for talks with Celtic who have agreed a fee of about 1.2m with his club.

"I'm probably looking to sign three more players," Lennon said, "but it depends on who goes out." As his European debut as Celtic manager dawns, Lennon expressed his contentment at the readiness of his players for the task against last season's Portuguese League runners-up.

"I'm trying to be calm and analytical about it," he said. "I'm not nervous or apprehensive. I'm pleased with the way the players have progressed in pre-season, we got better as the tour went on in America. This game in Braga will be a real eye-opener in terms of seeing what stage the team is at, but we have some real quality players here."

Lennon stressed that pragmatism will be the key to his philosophy as Celtic manager. While his predecessor Tony Mowbray often cited performance levels as more important than results, Lennon appreciates he cannot afford to entertain such high ideals.

"You can have all the great ideas of how you want to play, all the scenarios in your head, but there are different variables in every match," he said. "In your mind, there is that Utopia, but it's very difficult to do that in reality. That's not a criticism of Tony, so don't take it that way."

Defender Darren O'Dea and striker Morten Rasmussen were the only notable absentees from the Celtic squad who travelled yesterday, the pair staying at home for treatment on minor injuries.