Strachan has faith in Brown

Champions League:Celtic's hopes of emulating last season's Champions League progress have been tempered somewhat after Gordon Strachan confirmed that his influential goalkeeper, Artur Boruc, will miss this evening's qualifying tie against Spartak Moscow through injury.

Boruc, who sustained shoulder damage during a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United, was instrumental as Celtic progressed to the last 16 of Europe's premier club competition last season. The Pole trained with his team-mates in Moscow yesterday but Strachan said Mark Brown will play at Luzhniki Stadium.

"I wasn't told how close to fitness he (Boruc) was," the Celtic manager said. "I was just told he was out."

He harbours no reservations over playing Brown in the first-leg tie, despite the 26-year-old Scotland B international never having taken part in a European match before.

Strachan and his players have serious concerns over the artificial surface they will be forced to play on in the Russian capital and with good cause. The last time a Scottish club was involved in such a situation, Dunfermline Athletic were forced to move a Uefa Cup tie to St Johnstone's McDiarmid Park in 2004 because their Astroturf pitch was deemed unsuitable.

Spartak have been issued with no such instruction by European football's governing body, a matter which has perturbed senior Celtic officials.

Strachan must decide whether or not to utilise the experience of Steven Pressley at the heart of his defence and the manager is likely to sacrifice width in midfield to deploy a holding midfielder: Gary Caldwell or Paul Hartley will fulfil such a role.

Spartak Moscow v Celtic

Luzhniki Stadium

Kick-off:5.0