Sutton's FA Cup challenge

Former Celt Chris Sutton dips his toes into the managerial graveyard of the FA Cup tomorrow when he takes Lincoln City to face Conference North side AFC Telford.

The New Bucks Head Stadium is a million miles removed from the stadiums that Sutton graced as a player but already in his management career the former England striker has shown his keenness to roll up his sleeves and get to work at the footballing coalface.

Lincoln haven't made the second round of the FA Cup since 2003/04 when their manager was dominating Scottish football in the final season of his partnership with Henrik Larsson.

Sitting in 19th place out of 24 in League Two, Lincoln won't be taking anything for granted at Telford although Sutton happily wasn't overdoing the cup cliches when he previewed the match.

The Lincoln boss said: "If you'd asked me would I rather draw Norwich, Leeds and Charlton or Telford I would pick Telford, and that's no disrespect to them because we are expecting a tough game.

UPSETS

"I think over the years they've caused a few upsets and last year they were unlucky to lose to Southend, so they will think they're in with a chance.

"It's a very special competition and I am aware that we haven't won through to the second round for the last six years.

"That's too long and it's about time we put that right by beating Telford tomorrow, although I realise it will be tough. Myself and Ian Pearce (Sutton's assistant manager) went to watch them the other night and they are decent.

"They will certainly fancy their chances, especially as they are at home but ultimately it's about what we do and we simply have to be at it from the first whistle."

ZAMERETO

Elsewhere in the FA Cup Paul Lambert takes Norwich to face Paulton Rovers who play five levels below the Canaries in the Zamereto League.

Paulton have won through five qualifying rounds to face Norwich with the game a 2,500 sell-out despite being shown live on ITV, kick off 12.45 Saturday.

Loan Celts Simon Ferry and Ben Hutchison will be expecting to progress with Swindon at home to Woking with Ferry on the scoresheet in last week's 4-1 win at Tranmere.

Evening Herald report from Hamburg

McDonald and Samaras lead the attack

Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras have been given the striking roles as Celtic attempt to salvage their Europa Cup campaign with a win against Hamburg.

Marco Fortune remains on the bench where he is joined by Stephen McManus who is available again after Saturday's domestic suspension

Celtic team: Zaluska; Hinkel, Loovens, Caldwell, Fox; Robson, N'Guemo, Crosas, McGeady; McDonald, Samaras
SUBS Cervi, Wilson, Fortune, McGinn, McCourt, Naylor.

McIntyre's Champions League ambition

Celtic's u-19 side travel to the far south-west on Sunday to face Threave Rovers with the Champions League the target for the players.

With the best young players in Scotland and a select few from overseas in the squad Celtic will be expected to win comfortably as they set out to regain the SFA Youth Cup.

Winning is an important part of youth football but it goes hand in hand with developing young players into first team material capable of playing at the highest level of the game.

Mixing development and success is the aim of the club with Tommy McIntyre overseeing the professional level of youth development helping to take schoolboys from the Academy environment into the cutting edge of the game.

McIntyre is hands-on at u-17 and u-19 level and is encouraged by the start that the u-19s have made to the season as he comes to terms with his first season involved with Celtic.
The former Aberdeen and Hibs defender said: “Ultimately our main priority is to develop players for the Champions League, that's a big challenge but an exciting one.

STRUCTURE
“We're delighted with the way that the season has been going for the u-19's. The management structure is new but we've assessed the squad and are looking to develop them individually but also as a team.
“In pre-season we were up against European opposition, we just missed out winning the Vilareal tournament but took a lot from that although we have to bear in mind that in Scotland the game is played differently.
“We know that the expectations are high at Celtic but our priority is to develop players as best we can.
“There was a bit of a lull recently in terms of results with the u-19s but we have been working a lot on movement in terms of breaking teams down and we've been getting the rewards in our last two matches.
“The boys have turned things around and have developed a ruthless streak, they've shown that in abundance against Motherwell and Hamilton who are both up challenging at the top of the league.
“Everyone involved is quietly pleased with the way things are developing.”
Celtic are unbeaten in eight league games this season with four wins and four draws so far.

FRAMEWORK
Having watched the last two matches the team is certainly developing with a good blend of exciting talented individuals working within a team framework that allows them to express themselves on the park.
In theory Greig Spence is a lone striker but James Forrest and James Keatings are both flexible and adaptable allowing them to switch flanks and also to come in and play close to Spence.
Eight goals in the last two games have illustrated the success of those tactics with a confidence emerging amongst the players from achieving results and getting rewarded for the work put in on the training ground.
So far James Forrest has came closest to first team involvement but working closely with Tony Mowbray McIntyre knows that the manager is keen to get the u-19 squad.

ENCOURAGEMENT
McIntyre added: "The manager gives us lots of encouragement and wants to see players pushing on and getting involved at a higher level.
"James Forrest has earned that right and has been training with the first team, he's also been a first team substitute against St Mirren and Rangers.
"That's the target and something that other players can be aiming towards. We've got as lot of talented players and they need to push themselves and be tested at a higher level.
"The season has been going well so far, ultimately our task is to develop players for the first team and that's the goal of everyone involved throughout the Academy structure."

McGinn the fan becomes Niall the scorer

Niall McGinn's joy at his first Celtic goal was obvious to all on Saturday as the ball hit the back of the Kilmarnock net.

The 22-year-old from County Tyrone has forced his way into Tony Mowbray's squad this season and made a favourable impression on the support with his pace and direct approach to taking on defenders.

In any circumstances scoring your first goal for a club is a special feeling but for the dwindling band of supporters to have graduated into the first team it must be extra special.

Aiden McGeady was fortunate enough to score on his Celtic debut against Hearts in 2004 but there weren't many friendly faces celebrating when his shot hit the net.

BAMBOOZLED
A few months after McGeady's debut goal Alan Thompson, what a surprise, sent in a stinging shot that bamboozled Stefan Klos as it bent and swerved it's way over the German into the goal.

Behind Klos celebrating was the teenage McGinn, jumping for joy as his first visit to Celtic Park ended in victory to give him something to celebrate all the way home and no doubt through the next week or two.

After scoring his first Celtic goal against Kilmarnock at the weekend McGinn was happy to recall the emotions that he felt as a fan celebrating one of Thompson's many goals against Rangers.

McGinn recalled: "I'll never forget the first time I watched a match at Celtic Park, I was sitting behind the goal when Alan Thompson scored a late winner against Rangers.

CELEBRATIONS
"I was going mad after that goal so it was special to score my first Celtic goal at the same end then share the celebrations with the supporters.

"I'd thought about my celebrations, I had a few planned but just ran over to the crowd and kissed the badge.

"I grew up supporting Celtic. When I came back to the halfway line I put my hand up to my mother and father who were in the Players' Lounge watching me.

UNBELIEVABLE
"When I got back to the changing room after the match there was a lot of messages and missed calls on my phone, the support that I'm getting from back home is unbelievable. There is a big following from my area for Celtic and everyone seems interested in how I'm getting on.

"A lot of people give up time to travel over from Ireland to watch Celtic. It was my dream as a boy to play here and I loved coming over for games.

"I know what it's like to be a supporter, to be playing for Celtic is very special and I like to give something back to the people that are travelling over from Ireland."

Evening Herald interview with Niall McGinn

Hamburg lose at home to lowly Moenchengladbach

Europa League opponents Hamburg lost 3-2 at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach yesterday to drop down to third place in the Bundesliga.

It was the second week running that Bruno Labbadia's side have lost three goals and should provide Celtic with some hope for Thursday's match.

Anything less than a win would effectively end Celtic's interest in the group with Hamburg favourites to qualify with two of their final three matches at home.

The defeat from Borussia was the biggest shock of the day in the Bundesliga and was the first away win of the season for Moenchengladbach.

Hamburg were twice in front but were unable to retain their lead and lost out when Canadian striker Rob Friend scored his second goal in the 82nd minute in front of a crowd of 57,000.

FRUSTRATING

After the defeat Labbadia said: "We didn't play well enough as a team, it's frustrating to lose when we were twice in the lead.

"It's our first setback of the season but now we have to get ready for the game with Celtic, that is our next challenge.

"We will focus on the Celtic game throughout the week knowing that a win will put us in a great position to qualify for the next stage of the Europa League."

Celtic are certain to go into the match without Artur Boruc which hands a European debut to Lucasz Zaluska.

TESTING

The former Dundee United keeper has played in Celtic's last three matches and is looking forward to testing himself against the Germans.

He said: "It's a big game for me. Yeah, it's special for a Pole to face a German team, but it's more when the Polish national team face Germany.

"It's more that the game in Hamburg is the last chance for Celtic to play more games in Europe. I think it will be a great game.

ATMOSPHERE

"It's a big moment for me, my first game in Europe, but I think the better atmosphere is Celtic Park. I don't think the atmosphere in Hamburg will be anything special.

"I expected a better team when Hamburg came. They are one of the top teams in the Bundesliga, but managed only two shots at Celtic Park, so anything is possible in this game."

In the other fixture in Group C Raid Vienna will be looking for revenge after losing 5-1 to Hapoel in Tel Aviv.

At the weekend Rapid won 1-0 at home to SV Ried while Hapoel won their derby match with Macabbi 1-0.