RONNY Deila will get his first exposure to the challenge that faces Celtic in this month's Europa League tie with Inter Milan when he watches the under-pressure Italian side in their own backyard tonight.

The Celtic manager will be among the audience in the San Siro Stadium when Inter take on Palermo at home in Serie A, a match manager Roberto Mancini needs to win to quell some of the criticism after three defeats in a row. Inter are currently 13th in the league and were knocked out of the Italian Cup last Wednesday by Napoli.

Deila was able to use Celtic's early kick-off at Dens Park as the ideal opportunity to catch a flight to Italy and get his first look at Inter before they arrive at Celtic Park on February 19 for the first leg of the last 32 tie.

"Yeah, we're going to watch them," said Deila. I will go to watch them on Sunday. I visited Manchester City when he [Mancini] was there as well so I spoke to him one time. He is a professional and has a very clear style of playing. He has done well when he has been a manager and he is a winner."

Ironically, Mancini has sought to repair Inter's porous defence by bringing one of the many unwanted players from Newcastle United. Davide Santon will make his San Siro bow in front of Deila just days after he was shipped out of Newcastle, while five of his colleagues went to Rangers.

Now 24, Santon left Inter to join Newcastle but has played just once this season. "I come back a more experienced player after the last three-and-a-half years," he said. "I made nearly 100 appearances in England, despite not playing for around nine months due to injury. I'm here to compete."