Team news: Celtic v Linfield (A)

Celtic will be looking to progress to the third qualifying round for the Champions League group stages when they take on Linfield in a two-legged tie.

The first leg takes place this Friday and is Brendan Rodgers’ first competitive game in charge of the club this season after a pre-season trip to Austria.

Linfield manager David Healy is a former player of Celtic’s old arch rivals Rangers and will be looking to upset the odds starting with the game at Windsor Park.

It is the Belfast sides first time in the qualification rounds of Europe’s premier competition since 2012 when they also reached the second round.

Rodgers’ side overcame Lincoln Red Imps last at the same stage, but will look for a much better away performance this time around.

Celtic

New signing Olivier Ntcham will remain in Glasgow to work on his fitness before making his debut for the Hoops, which could come in a friendly against Lyon on Saturday.

Scott Brown has recovered from a foot injury he sustained in Dublin in the first-half of Celtic’s 9-0 win over Shamrock Rovers.

Eboue Kouassi and Kristoffer Ajer both returned to training after recovering from their respective injuries.

Dedryck Boyata is out for three months with a knee injury.

Linfield

The Belfast side have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the game.