Football: O'Neill facing Sutton sweat.

CELTIC were last night sweating over the fitness of star striker Chris Sutton ahead of their UEFA Cup clash with Bordeaux in France tonight.

And that could mean Tommy Johnson being re-called to the first-team to face Christophe Dugarry and co - despite the Geordie striker having been out for the past two months with injury.

Sutton damaged his left ankle during last weekend's 2-1 win over Dundee United at Celtic Park and despite intensive physiotherapy the injury has not healed as quickly as was hoped.

And Hoops boss Martin O'Neill admitted it was touch and go as to whether or not the big Englishman would make the game with time not on the player's side.

And that would mean O'Neill having to re-shuffle his pack as Celtic go into one of their toughest games since the Irishman took over in the summer.

He said: "Chris is a real concern because although his ankle is getting slowly better, it is progressing very slowly indeed.

"I don't know whether that would mean radically having to alter the side, because there are other players who could come in but it would be a big loss.

"We can't afford to let it be a determining factor in what goes on tonight but it is something we would have to accommodate.

"But we will give him until the last possible minute to prove his fitness, and we're hoping he'll be ok."

If not, Johnson, who played for the under-21 side against Dundee United earlier this week, could be in line for a shock recall.

Meanwhile defender Alan Stubbs is also expected to declare himself fit despite a similar lack of match fitness.

O'Neill said: "Tommy hasn't played a great deal of football recently, and I think both he and I feel he could do with another game under his belt.

"And I think Alan would just like any kind of game at all. So we'll have to wait and see what the situation is."

Despite the possible absence of Sutton, though, O'Neill was in a bullish mood when discussing his side's prospects, although the Parkhead gaffer said he was taking some negative comments from the French about the home side's chances with a pinch of salt.

But he admitted that the absence of Belgian midfielder Marc Wilmots, who was ruled out yesterday after injuring himself on Saturday in the 1-1 draw with Lyon, was a massive bonus for the Parkhead side.

O'Neill quipped: "It certainly helps us and if they decide not to replace him with anyone at all, then that is even better!

"Seriously, he is a very good player, and when I saw him he played very well for them but they have other good players as well, and we will have to be at our best no matter who they put out in order to get a result."