CELTIC'S McSocceroo hat-trick hero Scott McDonald has no qualms about forming a new partnership with Kiwi Chris Killen for the Champions League clash with AC Milan.
The Australian international, who scored his first senior hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Dundee United at Celtic Park on Saturday, is likely to be without strike partner Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink for Wednesday's game after the big Dutchman had to go off before the interval with a hamstring injury.
However, the 24-year-old is confident that replacement Killen will be a more than adequate alternative if selected against the Serie A giants
He said: "Coming from the southern hemisphere, Chris and I are good friends and I believe he can fill Jan's boots.
"He was a bit unlucky not to score when he came on.
"He's not had many games recently so it's hard for him but he looked sharp and I'm sure he can cause them problems.
"The last two games against AC Milan have been goalless draws so I expect this one to be tight. One goal could win the game.''
The champions went back to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with their 3-0 win and manager Gordon Strachan claimed his side's goalscoring form was the main reason to to be positive ahead of the visit of AC Milan.
On three occasions Celtic have notched five times and it is that impressive scoring record which Strachan hopes his side can continue against Milan who are struggling in Serie A this season.
The Celtic boss said: "If you always look like scoring goals then you have a chance of winning.
"In some games last year we found it very hard to make chances, this season we have made numerous chances so that is the satisfying thing as well as getting a good result before we play AC Milan.
Despite McDonald's hat-trick Strachan preferred to highlight the contribution of Aiden McGeady who shone on the right-hand side of the midfield.
He said: "There were some good individual performances, especially by the forwards.
"But I thought Aiden was terrific. The more we gave him the ball, the better he became.
"We couldn't get enough ball to Aiden in the first half because we were so sloppy and so he had to go and look for it.
"But when he got the ball out wide he was terrific."
However, the 24-year-old is confident that replacement Killen will be a more than adequate alternative if selected against the Serie A giants
He said: "Coming from the southern hemisphere, Chris and I are good friends and I believe he can fill Jan's boots.
"He was a bit unlucky not to score when he came on.
"He's not had many games recently so it's hard for him but he looked sharp and I'm sure he can cause them problems.
"The last two games against AC Milan have been goalless draws so I expect this one to be tight. One goal could win the game.''
The champions went back to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with their 3-0 win and manager Gordon Strachan claimed his side's goalscoring form was the main reason to to be positive ahead of the visit of AC Milan.
On three occasions Celtic have notched five times and it is that impressive scoring record which Strachan hopes his side can continue against Milan who are struggling in Serie A this season.
The Celtic boss said: "If you always look like scoring goals then you have a chance of winning.
"In some games last year we found it very hard to make chances, this season we have made numerous chances so that is the satisfying thing as well as getting a good result before we play AC Milan.
Despite McDonald's hat-trick Strachan preferred to highlight the contribution of Aiden McGeady who shone on the right-hand side of the midfield.
He said: "There were some good individual performances, especially by the forwards.
"But I thought Aiden was terrific. The more we gave him the ball, the better he became.
"We couldn't get enough ball to Aiden in the first half because we were so sloppy and so he had to go and look for it.
"But when he got the ball out wide he was terrific."
Copyright (c) Press Association
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