Celtic news latest as Luis Palma told to 'get his act together' and icon backs Hoops to take Champions League by storm

The Hoops got their Euro campaign off to a flying start but the Honduran has barely featured this season

Luis Palma has been backed to force his way back into the Celtic starting line up after overcoming his injury problems.

The Honduran was left on the bench for the 5-1 Champions League trouncing of Slovan Bratislava at Parkhead and has been limited to just 46 minutes of action this season. But former Honduran international Julio Cesar de Leon has leapt to the winger’s defence and backed him to get into Brendan Rodgers’ side.

Speaking to Honduran outlet El Heraldo, the former midfielder said: “The boy has been recovering from a little knock, let’s hope he gets his act together so he can return to the starting lineup. It’s difficult to return to the starting lineup when you get injured, you have enough ability to do so, you have to put in a little more aggression, because today you have to know how to kick, earn respect. The rest, he has the technical quality, the physical part he is unbalanced, he has to do a little more gym, when he manages to get that he will be a starter wherever he is.”

Meanwhile, Hoops icon Lubomir Moravcik insists Celtic are '100 per cent ready' to make a big impact in the Champions League this season because of their exciting brand of football. Moravcik - who was a pundit on Slovakian TV - admitted he was hugely impressed with Rodgers' side after that 5-1 win and reckons they have the tools needed to impress this year.

He said: "Celtic are so strong and play very high quality football. They punished Slovan Bratislava a lot because they operate at such a high level. Celtic played such modern and fast football with high pressing and Slovan couldn't cope.

"If you look at Celtic, they have taken a lot of time to get to this stage. They gained experience in the competition and they have taken time to to build a team and get to this level. And I think they are 100 per cent ready to make an impression in this year's Champions League.

"I saw people were complaining about the quality of the Slovakian League - well, Celtic have really no competition in the Scottish League either now. Celtic looked like they had players of a completely different level to Slovan. Having said that, I was very disappointed in the level of fight shown by Slovan.

“I am not saying they didn't try, but playing at 90 per cent, at best, is not good enough for the Champions League and every small mistake gets punished. But let's not forget it was Slovan's first ever game in the Champions League group stages and you cannot expect miracles. They must use this lesson."

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