Celtic all fired up for Benfica.

Byline: By Ronnie Esplin

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan has no concerns about his injury list ahead of their Champions League clash with Benfica tonight.

Missing from the convincing 4-1 win over Dundee United at the weekend were in-form midfielder Aiden McGeady (ankle) and striker Craig Beattie (hamstring).

And forward Maciej Zurawski was left out after coming back with tightness in his legs following international duty with Poland.

Striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink hobbled off to be replaced by Kenny Miller and, like the other injured Hoops players, he will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the crucial Group F encounter at Celtic Park.

One player definitely out is midfielder Thomas Gravesen (hamstring) so his replacement at Tannadice, 19-year-old Dutchman Evander Sno, is likely to make his Champions League debut.

But Strachan refused to be too pessimistic about the health of his squad.

"It doesn't worry me. The players who have come in recently because of injuries have proved to me and their team-mates that it is not a problem and it is really rewarding to see that," he said.

"I'm confident that whatever team we pick will be able to give Benfica a good game."

A 3-2 defeat in the opening match at Manchester United was followed by a 1-0 win over FC Copenhagen.

Strachan claimed before the Old Trafford game that it was too early in the season for his side to take on the English team but the Hoops boss is more confident ahead of the visit of the Portuguese.

However, the former Coventry boss accepts Benfica, who won 4-0 at the weekend away at Leiria, are also benefiting from having more matches.

He said: "Benfica also signed new players in the summer and they took a little while to get going.

"But you can tell by their result at the weekend that they are up and running and we are similarly.

"The Manchester United game came 10 days after we signed Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink and even Lee Naylor wasn't there too long so we've bedded in nicely.

"You've got two sides who are playing reasonably well and are more settled so it looks like it's going to be a good game."