Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara doesn’t think Celtic will be weaker even if they make changes with Europe in mind.
The Tangerines’ task of hosting the Hoops at Tannadice on Saturday may look just a little less daunting because of the Parkhead club’s looming Champions’ League play-off return in Malmo next Tuesday.
The logic goes that with such an important fixture on the horizon they will be tempted to rest key players when they face United.
Also, their injury list grew after Wednesday’s 3-2 win at Celtic Park, with Mikael Lustig, Stuart Armstrong and Nir Biton among those hurt during the game.
That could give hope to a United team desperate to make amends for their 4-0 defeat to Hamilton Accies last Saturday.
However, McNamara believes that, whatever the line-up, resource-rich Celtic will still be seriously strong opposition.
Asked if United can capitalise on the Hoops having Malmo on their minds, McNamara replied: “That doesn’t matter because they have a big enough squad to cope with it, considering the resources they have.
“So I wouldn’t look too much into people getting changed or being injured. We have injuries ourselves, about six of them.”
So, if Celtic made 11 changes they would still be formidable foes?
“Of course, yes, and they would be for a reason they have the resources,” said the United boss.
“You have to compete on both fronts (domestic and European) as a Celtic player and you are judged on Europe.
“In the league matches you are expected to win every one and it doesn’t matter who is rested and who is playing. The players are at Celtic for a reason and that is they are deemed good enough to do it.”
McNamara watched his former club lose a last-gasp goal to the Swedes on Thursday night but, putting domestic rivalries aside, hopes they can still qualify.
He said: “You are going to get teams in there that are good sides like Malmo.
“I saw them play a couple of years ago against Hibs at Easter Road and they were very good, although they will have different players from then.
“They will still be quality players, though. Celtic started well, got a couple of goals and looked strong. They (Malmo) came back into it and now it should be an interesting tie over there.
“Hopefully, for the good of Scottish football, Celtic can get through.”
McNamara is more bothered about his own team, though, and is keen for the players to show that the Accies loss was a “blip.”
He said: “We know what they are capable of doing from training and some of the games and we want to see them take that out on to the park.
“There was a lot of fear there on Saturday and at times we went as individuals rather than stay together as a team. It was a bad game for us last week and it’s important we bounce back.
“It’s a clich but we really do have to get back to basics and do things properly.
“Saturday was disappointing and a lot of things went wrong.
“So there are a lot of things we have to put right this weekend, otherwise we will get punished from a team that does punish sides for mistakes. We have had a good reaction from the players this week.
“Hopefully it (Hamilton) was just a one-off. We haven’t looked that bad in any of the other games.
“We have looked solid enough and there have been thin lines between winning, drawing and losing matches, taking Saturday aside.”
Meanwhile, Ryan Dow looks likely to at least be on the bench against Celtic.
McNamara confirmed: “He has trained with us again so he will come into contention.”
There is, however, a doubt over Darko Bodul after he injured his ankle during training on Thursday.