Celtic have officially registered their 25-man squad for the UEFA Champions League Play-Off Round clash against Austrian Bundesliga champions LASK.
UEFA published the full squad list on their website following the registration deadline, with several notable inclusions and absences catching the eye of supporters.
New signings Haissem Hassan and Mika Baur were both included in the squad, giving manager Martin O’Neill fresh options as he prepares for the two-legged European showdown.
Alistair Johnston was a notable absentee from the registered group, with O’Neill confirming the defender would remain sidelined until at least mid-September due to injury.
Colby Donovan was not included on List A but remains eligible for selection through List B, which covers under-21 homegrown players who do not require formal registration.
Reserve goalkeeper Marcus Gill also falls under the same List B eligibility criteria, meaning both players could still feature in the tie if called upon by the manager.
Arne Engels was included in the submitted squad, though his presence on the list does not necessarily reflect his long-term future at the club, with a move to West Ham progressing after the registration deadline had passed.
O’Neill confirmed that Engels was due to undergo a medical at West Ham, suggesting the midfielder’s time in Glasgow could be drawing to a close regardless of his squad listing.
Celtic will host the first leg at Celtic Park on Wednesday, August 19, with an 8pm kick-off expected to draw a large and passionate home crowd for the occasion.
O’Neill’s side will then travel to Austria for the second leg at the Oberosterreich Arena on Tuesday, August 25, with the return fixture kicking off at 9pm local time, which is 8pm in the UK.
Celtic were relieved to avoid a potential rematch with Kairat Almaty in the draw, after the Kazakh side knocked the Hoops out at the same stage last season following a goalless 210 minutes of football and a penalty shootout defeat.
LASK arrive at this stage having won the Austrian Bundesliga for the second time last season, finishing two points clear of defending champions Sturm Graz in a tightly contested title race.
The play-off tie represents a significant opportunity for Celtic to secure a place in the Champions League group phase and the considerable financial rewards that come with it.
