Tony Stokes looks to exit Champions League on high

ANTHONY Stokes concedes Celtic’s Champions League campaign has faltered in front of goal, but the striker is looking to make amends in the final group fixture tonight against Barcelona in the Nou Camp.

Celtic's Anthony Stokes is looking to end his side's Champion's League campaign on a high. Picture: SNS

Neil Lennon’s men qualified for the last 16 of the competition last year but have three points from five Group H games and are guaranteed to finish bottom of the section this season without even the safety net of Europa League football in the new year.

Celtic have only scored two goals in the group, both in the 2-1 win over Ajax at Parkhead in October, which led Republic of Ireland forward Stokes to say: “We just haven’t taken our opportunities in front of goal. We have played good football and competed very well in the games but maybe we haven’t had the break of the ball or were as ruthless as we were last year, it’s as simple as that. We are obviously disappointed that there is not more to play for tomorrow night, but it is still a massive game.

“It is a game we want to compete. We want to go out on a positive note. It will be a difficult task, but we will try our best to win the game.”

Emilio Izaguirre picked up his third booking against AC Milan in the last Group H fixture and will miss the game but Lennon welcomes back Adam Matthews, who is contention after recovering from shoulder surgery which kept him out for seven weeks. Skipper Scott Brown returns after missing the last three European games through suspension.