Egyptian winger Haitham Hassan is set to be included in Celtic’s squad for their crucial Champions League qualifying tie against Austrian side LASK.
Celtic will host LASK at Celtic Park on Wednesday, August 19, before travelling to Austria for the second leg on August 25.
The winner of the two-legged tie will advance to the Champions League play-off round.
Hassan joined Celtic during the current transfer window on a four-year contract running until 2030. The Scottish giants reportedly paid an initial £6 million for the attacker, with the fee potentially rising to £9 million through bonuses and other incentives.
The significant investment highlights Celtic’s expectations of the Egyptian, who is now in line to make his European debut for the club in one of the biggest fixtures of the early season.
Manager Martin O’Neill has been strengthening his squad ahead of a demanding campaign, with Hassan expected to provide additional pace, attacking quality and versatility.
Celtic still have the opportunity to make changes to their Champions League squad before the first leg, with the registration deadline reportedly set for Tuesday evening.
Hassan will therefore be hoping to complete the necessary formalities and earn his place in the squad for the meeting with LASK.
For the 24-year-old, the tie offers an ideal opportunity to make an immediate impact at Celtic and help the club move one step closer to the Champions League proper.
