INTER MILAN'S questionable defending has given Celtic hope they can pull off a remarkable Europa League result and win in the San Siro on Thursday, according to Kris Commons.
The midfielder missed the 3-3 first leg but returned from a hamstring strain to score twice in a 4-0 Premiership rout of Hamilton at Parkhead. That gave them a three-point lead at the top of the league before two major games, the second leg of their last 32 tie in Milan and then the league visit of title challengers Aberdeen next weekend.
Commons admitted Celtic's own defending also had to improve in Europe but he was upbeat.
"It's going to be extremely difficult but I think we will get chances out there," he said. "I don't think they are defensively great, I think they have shown that the other night. If the ball had gone our way at times we could easily have scored four or five. But, in saying that, they could probably say that about ourselves. I can't wait for the San Siro and I hope I've done enough to win a place in the starting 11."
Manager Ronny Deila has also expressed confidence about Milan although he admitted to some concerns about the fact they will return from Italy in the early hours of Friday morning and then face Aberdeen at noon next Sunday.
"I could say something about that," he said. "We are used to playing at 1pm and now it's 12. Maybe soon we will play at 9am, I don't know. It's very early - for the fans as well - but we will be ready.
"Today we were switched on and in the first half we created four or five chances and Hamilton were very deep. I don't think they were inside our 18-yard box once. In the second half they got more tired with all their running. I think we passed the ball quite well and after the first goal they had to come forward. Things opened up, we got four in the end and I'm very pleased with the performance."
Deila urged John Guidetti, who scored for the second consecutive game, to stay at Celtic next season. The Swedish striker is reportedly going to be offered a £60,000-a-week deal from Marseille although Deila was unaware of that.
"I think he should stay at Celtic. He has been in and out of the team here. Why? Because he hasn't been good enough. When he plays at his best level, he is good enough and then he will play. Then he will develop. He is still young and hopefully he will want to stay at Celtic."
He said Anthony Stokes definitely had a future at Celtic despite being left out of the squad for the second consecutive game after being disciplined for returning late from a visit to Ireland.
"We are dealing with the other things and there's no problem," said Deila. "I'm always after development and Anthony has things he has to improve and work on. He's very motivated to do that. There are things we've been talking about for a long time and he has to step up on these things." Hamilton offered little to the game and have gone eight games without a win.
"The run we're on is not ideal but we are under no illusions," said manager Martin Canning. "This was never a game where you think we are going to get back on track. We'd like to be on a better run but all we can do is work even harder. We now have a run of fixtures where I believe we can pick up points."
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