CELTIC striker Scott McDonald does not expect to be fit for Sunday's first Old Firm derby of the season.
The Australian international, whose goals helped fire the Parkhead club to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title last season, is suffering with a groin tear he believes will rule him out of the crunch clash.
The injury, which the 25-year
-old picked up on international duty last week, was initially thought to be a minor one.
But scans revealed the true extent of the problem and the player is bracing himself for a watching brief this weekend.
Speaking after yesterday's Champions League draw, in which Celtic ended up in the same group as holders Manchester United for the second time in three seasons, McDonald claimed he would be back in time for the big European kick-off.
"I'm very confident of being fit and ready for that," he said. "I think the Rangers game comes just a couple of days too early for myself."
McDonald, who hopes to join Australia on international duty next week, added: "I should be fighting fit and ready to go the week before the Champions League starts.
"I want to get my foot in the door and get back in the team but when you get out of the team here, it's always difficult to get back in."
McDonald's absence would be a huge blow to manager Gordon Strachan, with strike partner Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink also set to be sidelined with a deep gash to his leg.
The duo netted 51 goals for the club last term and their absence would put pressure on Georgios Samaras and recent signing Shaun Maloney to lead the line against Rangers, with Strachan having few alternatives.
McDonald, meanwhile, is looking forward to pitting his wits against Group E opponents United, Villarreal and Aalborg when the Champions League gets under way.
"We went into the draw full of confidence anyway," said the striker.
"Our home form's very good, it's just our away form that's been really poor in recent years in Europe.
"If we can try and get that right this year, that would go a long way to getting through to the next round."
McDonald believes it is a good omen that Celtic have drawn United and a Danish team in the same group.
"I think we always love to draw the champions of Europe as we did last year," he said.
"I think there's a few similarities from the last time we had Man United in 2006]. I believe we also had a Danish team (Copenhagen] that time round.
"Hopefully, all these things add up to good things and get us through to the next round again."
As for the matches against United, McDonald added: "They're going to be fantastic games, obviously.
"Two teams, Scotland and England, the rivalry already. In recent years, we played against them and we got a victory over them once and they beat us at their ground as well.
"It all bodes well for a great atmosphere and great game as well and hopefully we can give that to the public." McDonald accepts that United are favourites to top the group, making the games against Villarreal crucial to Celtic's hopes.
"They're massive. I think the Aalborg games are, too," he said.
"Most games we go into, we're probably underdogs. There will probably be a bit of added pressure in the Aalborg ties.
"Villarreal, you would look at it on paper as the more difficult of the two."
The full article contains 596 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
