Wednesday 27 July 2016 09:16, UK
Scotland keeper Craig Gordon believes Eoghan O'Connell can help solve Celtic's defensive problems against Astana on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Irishman, who had brief loan spells at Oldham and hometown club Cork City last season, is set to make his Champions League debut in the first leg of the third qualifier in Kazakhstan.
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, without long-term injury victims Jozo Simunovic and Dedryck Boyata, saw his options limited further after Erik Sviatchenko (groin) and Kristoffer Ajer (hand) were left out of the travelling party to Central Asia.
But after watching O'Connell's fine performance in the 1-1 International Champions Cup draw against Leicester City last Saturday, Gordon has no doubt he will take his Champions League bow in his stride.
"His last performance was exceptional," said the former Hearts and Sunderland keeper. "He was one of our best players against the champions of England.
"So if you can come through that and look as good he did in that game, there is no reason why he can't step into a Champions League qualifier and perform just as well."
And Rodgers is similarly confident about O'Connell's ability, adding: "He is a good size, first and foremost he wants to defend and in the short period I have worked with him, he is good in the air.
"He has a brain for football, he understands the game very well for a young player and importantly he plays the game well. For a young player, if they show those qualities I never have any fears of putting them in."
