However, what may be seen as a luxury fixture by some will be viewed very differently by the manager, who will relish the opportunity to silence detractors down south by putting on a performance at Villa Park.

There's a lot for Celtic fans to ponder ahead of the mammoth clash with selection issues and potential last 24 rivals all in the mix

Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney to rejoin Celtic in summer, according to Hoops boss Brendan Rodgers; Scotland international is in the last six months of his Gunners contract and has been told he can leave;

Celtic travel to Villa Park safe in the knowledge of progression to the knock-out round after beating Young Boys in their penultimate league phase game.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has made it clear that Arsenal's Kieran Tierney is set for a return to his former club, with the Scottish left-back's contract due to expire at season's end.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers says a move for Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney will “definitely happen” in the summer but he is trying to bring him in before next week’s transfer window shuts. Tierney has been in talks over a pre-contract agreement ahead of an emotional return to Celtic Park on a free transfer at the end of the season.

The point against the Belgians was an important, Celtic have scrapped and fought and Brendan and the players would have signed up for a win against Young Boys to extend their stay and secure knockout football in the revamped Champions League. Everything has been building towards this game against the Swiss.

Celtic have agreed to a deal to re-sign defender Kieran Tierney from Premier League side Arsenal and are trying to get the transfer over the line by the end of the January transfer window, manager Brendan Rodgers said.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers confirms that Arsenal's Kieran Tierney will return to the Scottish champions this summer, that fellow defender Alex Valle has returned to Barcelona, while the Glasgow club are aiming to sign a replacement for Kyogo Furuhashi after the striker's switch to Rennes.

Both Celtic and Villa can still still secure an automatic qualification spot, but results would have to fall favourably elsewhere for either to progress should they win.

Celtic face Aston Villa in Birmingham this afternoon as Brendan Rodgers’ side look to close out the new-look league phase with a result against Unai Emery’s side. However, Celtic go into the game with a number of absences from last weekend.