Ally McCoist reacts to ‘big blow’ for Brendan Rodgers and Celtic hours before Aston Villa clash

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Celtic will be hoping to continue their strong run on the road when they take on Aston Villa in the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Both teams have secured a play-off spot and still have a chance of booking that automatic last-16 place, but they will need to win and for other results to fall in their favour.

There have been a number of English-Scottish ties in Europe this season, including Rangers taking on Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham in December and the second-placed Premiership side then losing to Manchester United last week.

Ally McCoist admitted that he is loving these types of contests and he is now ‘looking forward’ to Celtic playing Villa for the very first time in their rich histories.

Brendan Rodgers’ side have drawn their last two games on the road – both goalless draws – after Celtic’s horror show in Dortmund on match week two.

How Celtic approach the match was discussed by McCoist and Alan Brazil, as well as the absence of Cameron Carter-Vickers.

Alan Brazil and Ally McCoist excited by Celtic’s Champions League clash at Aston Villa

Villa play a very high line, so in that sense, there will be a lot of space in behind for the forward players to run into.

The issue for Celtic is that Kyogo Furuhashi has now gone, and Adam Idah who is expected to replace him, isn’t in form, whilst Daizen Maeda is also suspended, so that’s a lot of speed out of the picture.

Then you add in the fact that Carter-Vickers is injured and McCoist feels it’s a ‘big blow’ for the Scottish champions, as he told talkSPORT on Wednesday morning (29/01/25).

“A mammoth game at Villa Park as they welcome Celtic in an all-British tie, with both sides in distance of reaching automatic qualification,” said Brazil. “I think we will have to score first, Celtic.”

McCoist stated: “A good game. I am really looking forward to it. I have seen a couple of good games with Scottish teams and English teams. I really enjoyed Spurs and Rangers. Man United and Rangers, I thought it wasn’t the best game, to be honest. But I am looking forward to tonight. I think it’s going to be a great game.”

Brazil then asked: “It will be interesting to see what Celtic do. Will they go at Villa? Will they try to close and press? Or will they sit back and catch them on the counter?”

McCoist responded: “I think you have to have a go. The one thing that’s great from Celtic’s point of view. I don’t care what anybody says. I think Celtic and Brendan have changed their philosophy away from home. They got an absolute battering in Dortmund and then they got a fabulous result in Italy. They know Villa will come at them. I think Carter-Vickers is a big blow for Celtic. Him not playing. But they will have to defend and attempt to hit them on the break. I don’t think they can go gung-ho.”

Cameron Carter-Vickers’ stats for Celtic this season

Make no bones about it, Carter-Vickers is a very important player for Celtic and his absence will be a huge blow.

You also need to take into account how Auston Trusty and Liam Scales have been in and out of the XI all season, without being able to cement their place.

Although, it was those two who started and kept a clean sheet against Atalanta – and you could argue that is a tougher away trip than Villa Park, so that provides much hope.

Either way, this is how Carter-Vickers has faired for Celtic this season.