Celtic in striker crisis as Scott McDonald and Jan Venegoor of Hesselink are crocked

Aug 24 2008 By Gordon Waddell

CELTIC face a striker sweat ahead of next week's first Old Firm showdown of the season.

Last season's 51-goal pairing Scott McDonald and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink both face a race to be fit.

Aussie McDonald missed the 3-0 win over Falkirk that sent Celts back to the top of the SPLwith a strained thigh muscle.

And his Dutch strike partner piled on the misery when he was stretchered off after 28 minutes with a badly gashed ankle.

Stand-ins Giorgios Samaras and Shaun Maloney - who made a dazzling return to Paradise - turning on the style in their absence.

But boss Gordon Strachan is desperate to have his crocks ready to face Rangers. He said: "Jan has a bad gash on his leg. We're just waiting to see if there's any bone or ligament damage."

Strachan added: "Scott's injury was a surprise. He trained on Friday and he's a brave wee soul. I thought something was wrong with his ankle but they tell me it's his adductor muscle.

"He might be fit for next week. We'll see how he reacts."

Samaras' double sealed the win for Celtic - but sub Maloney had the fans in raptures.

And Strachan said: "There was some negativity on Friday about Shaun coming back.

"I just told him: 'Wait until tomorrow and we'll see'.

"The reception he got was exactly what I expected.

"Shaun played well but there were special performances by Samaras, Shunsuke Nakamura, Aiden McGeady and the rest."

Asked if he was relaxed about the injury crisis because of the form of Maloney and Samaras, Strachan said: "The Old Firm is a different game altogether.

"Shaun and Sammy struck up an understanding but matches against Rangers are different."

Meanwhile, Strachan has warned Celtic fans that even s50million won't guarantee a place in the last eight of the Champions League.

The Hoops will find out on Thursday which sides they will face in this year's group stage.

But Strachan said: "Just because you've been to the last 16 it doesn't mean you get to the last eight after that.

"Even if you gave me s50m it would guarantee nothing."