The striker finalised his transfer from Scunthorpe just in time to catch Celtic`s charter flight to Porto ahead of the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Sporting Braga.

Hooper, who scored 50 goals in two seasons with Scunthorpe, had undergone a medical on Monday but had to sign some papers early this morning and arrived at Glasgow Airport after his new team-mates and manager Neil Lennon.

Lennon confirmed Hooper would be in his squad and the 22-year-old is eager to get on the pitch and banish his nerves by making the step from Glanford Park to Europe`s elite competition.

Hooper, who was left out of Scunthorpe`s pre-season games to safeguard his reported £2.4million transfer, said: "I'm a little bit nervous, it's the first time I've travelled abroad for a game.

"But I am looking forward to it and ready to meet my team-mates.

"I`m ready to come on. I haven`t really played a game. I`ve been training really hard, double sessions, but I`m ready to come on and score goal.

"It`s a massive step-up, I didn`t think I would be playing in the Champions League tomorrow night. I just hope I can play."

Hooper had also interested Middlesbrough, among other clubs, but Lennon did not need to persuade him to sign for Celtic.

"No, it`s Celtic, so I was coming here anyway," said Hooper, who began his career with Grays Athletic and then Southend.

"It`s a massive club and when they were interested, it was the only club I was coming to.

"It`s my dream. It`s one of the biggest clubs, to play in the Champions League and SPL, and we`ve got the Emirates Cup next week, so it`s a massive step."

Hooper is in Lennon's thoughts for the third qualifying round, although the new signing may have to wait for his debut.

The Celtic manager has fellow newcomers Daryl Murphy, Efrain Juarez and Cha Du-Ri in his pool along with Aiden McGeady, who has overcome the thigh injury that has sidelined him in all of Celtic's pre-season friendlies.

Speaking about Hooper, Lennon said: "I don't know about playing but he will be in the squad.

"I was pleased to get him, he has been on our radar for quite a while.

"I think we have a good player on our hands. His record is very, very good. It's not just goals, he can play a little bit as well.

"We are pleased to get that one through because there were a lot of clubs after his signature.

"We've got good attacking options now and McGeady is fit, which is a bonus."

Hooper becomes Celtic's sixth summer signing and 22-year-old Israel and Maccabi Haifa midfielder Biram Kayal is set to further boost Lennon's options.

"He's still on the go, we are still in negotiations with that one," the former Celtic captain said.

However, Lennon looks to have lost out on his attempts to sign veteran defender Sol Campbell, who was due to have a medical at Newcastle today.

And talks with England goalkeeper David James, who had been due in Glasgow on Monday, have been put on hold.

"He couldn't make it because of a personal problem," Lennon said.

"We are well aware of that and totally respect that decision.

"He will take his time on that and hopefully let us know in the future."

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Lennon admitted his new-look squad faced a tough test against the Portuguese runners-up.

"It's hugely difficult because of the lack of football we have had, the lack of time to prepare," the Parkhead boss said.

"But the boys are okay. We had a good trip to America and came back in good condition.

"They are still trying to get to know each other and some of them haven't played 90 minutes of football yet.

"But the training has gone well and we are pretty much injury-free.

"The Champions League at any time is very difficult and so early in the season it's a tall order.

"But we're hoping to keep it tight and have something to hold on to for the home game."