Terry Butcher fully aware of Celtic desire

INVERNESS manager Terry Butcher insists Celtic will have one eye on the mouth-watering clash with Juventus – because the Hoops players will be desperate to pin down a Champions League place.

The SPL leaders warm-up for Tuesday’s glamour first leg tie with a lunch-time clash in the Highlands on Saturday. Former England captain Butcher, whose side are 17 points adrift in second place, is hoping Neil Lennon’s are distracted by the eagerly-anticipated last-16 Juve clash this weekend.

Butcher also knows it could work against his team and he is wary that every Celtic player will be trying their utmost to earn a place for next week’s match.

Butcher, who is looking to lift Inverness following three straight losses, said: “It’s always the question; it is a good time to play Celtic or a bad time to play Celtic?

“I hope they’ve got one eye on Juventus. Perhaps they may be a little bit focused on the Juventus game, I certainly hope so. They’ve got players that want to get into the side that plays in that Juventus match.”

Following a heavy home defeat to the current pacesetters back in August, Caley stunned Celtic in November when Billy McKay scored the only goal at Parkhead.

Butcher added: “We’ve beaten them at their place which was a fantastic result and performance. I think they’ll be looking for revenge.”