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Liam Bryce

5 things we spotted at Celtic training as man of the moment Giorgos Giakoumakis holds court

Celtic went through their final preparations on Wednesday ahead of a do-or-die trip to face Bodo/Glimt.

The Parkhead side trail 3-1 from their Europa Conference League play-off round first leg and must lay it all on the line in Norway if they are to reach the last 16.

They're expected to face treacherous conditions in the Arctic Circle and must also contend with a plastic pitch at Bodo's Aspmyra Stadium.

But nothing in continental competition ever comes easy and the tie is still very much alive.

Here's five things we spotted from the session at Lennoxtown.

Decisions, decisions

It's a tough one for any manager, finding that balance between badly needing goals but knowing any concession at the other end is most likely fatal.

But Ange Postecoglou has championed this Celtic team's defiance in the face of adversity and, on Thursday, he needs them to do it again.

(SNS Group)

With an unrelenting fixture schedule, would he be tempted to mix things up in search of a result, or task the side who couldn't get the job done at home with putting things right?

The Celtic boss looked deep in thought at Lennoxtown earlier, perhaps pondering that very question.

A chance for Forrest?

The emergence of Jota and Liel Abada, plus yet more troublesome injuries, has forced James Forrest into the background at Celtic since the New Year.

The Scotland international started the first two matches of 2022 but has been used sparingly since, not featuring at all during Sunday's dramatic win over Dundee.

(SNS Group)

But with Jota and Abada a little off colour in last week's first leg, could he get a chance to impress against Bodo?

Forrest has been a consistent deliverer of big goals throughout his Celtic career, and there's certainly a few needed on Thursday.

Giakoumakis holds court

Giorgos Giakoumakis set the cat the among the pigeons this weekend with a remarkably open and honest post-match press conference after sinking Dundee with a fine hat-trick.

The striker declared his strong belief that Celtic will be champions and that they are better than reigning champions Rangers in every area of the pitch.

It's the kind of thing clubs would probably rather be kept behind closed doors and entirely at odds with Postecoglou's chilled-out rhetoric with regards to the title race.

(SNS Group)

But, let's be honest, wasn't it better to hear Giakoumakis speak his mind rather than offer up the stock "one game at a time" response we hear so often when players sit down in front of the media?

The big Greek forward was holding court again on his way on to the training pitch on Wednesday - and you couldn't really blame him if he was recalling his deadly treble in minute detail, could you?

Full speed ahead

It'll take nothing less than full throttle for Celtic to pull off a comeback on Thursday but that was exactly the attitude on show at Thursday's session.

It echoed Postecoglou's press conference assertion that his team would not alter their approach in the face of Bodo's threat - but he does want them to be more clinical.

(SNS Group)

Training drills hit top speed ahead of the trip to the Arctic Circle for what looks certain to be a fascinating contest in tough conditions.

Lennoxtown is hardly a tropical paradise, but it could feel positively sizzling in comparison to what awaits on the trip north.

Keepers club

Keepers often look like they're having the most fun at training and it was certainly no exception for Joe Hart.

He and goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods shared a laugh or two as the shot-stoppers were put to work.

(SNS Group)

Plenty of keepers - including Fraser Forster and Artur Boruc - have flourished under Woods' guidance and you do wonder how much of Hart rediscovering himself has been down to working with the long-serving coach.

It's clear the two have a rapport, one which was captured on camera on Thursday.

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