NOT so long ago Tony Mowbray's main problems were in defence. But with Lukasz Zaluska having kept two clean sheets in succession behind the more solid-looking Glenn Loovens and Gary Caldwell the spotlight has shifted to his currently mis-firing strikers.
Celtic's Europa League ambitions might hang by a thread, but there is a greater sense of security to be found between the posts. With Artur Boruc still recovering from knee surgery, Zaluska has made the most of his chance to impress. Although he had
comparatively little to do against Kilmarnock last weekend, the Pole was outstanding in difficult conditions at the Nordbank Arena in Hamburg on Thursday night. He has the opportunity to claim a third successive clean sheet tomorrow against Falkirk, when Celtic return to Scottish Premier League duty.
Boruc, who retained his place in goal last season despite often unconvincing form, must now realise he has a fight to reclaim his place. Mowbray is happy to ensure that he remains on his toes as he continues his comeback, and offered Boruc no guarantee of an immediate recall.
"Lukasz's performances now give me the opportunity not to have to rush Artur straight back in when he's recovered from his operation," said Mowbray yesterday. "If we feel he needs longer, we can take that time with him. I'm sure Artur would understand that and be pleased for his friend and colleague. Artur is very supportive of Lukasz and vice versa.
"Artur would have been sitting back in Glasgow on Thursday night watching Lukasz's performance and been genuinely pleased for him," added the Celtic manager.
Mowbray will hope that his strikers are in better form tomorrow than in midweek, when both Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras wasted clear chances to score. Had they been more clinical Celtic might have been returning to league action in the knowledge that their European ambitions had been revived. Instead, qualification remains a tall order, and Celtic must get used to the grind of domestic action again. Mowbray, though, is aware of the dangers posed by a Falkirk side in desperate need of a first league victory. The manager imagined a similar match to the one against Hamilton Accies a fortnight ago, which Celtic finally won 2-1.
"I expect a tough challenge on Sunday," he said. "You only have to look back at Hamilton. We were doing well then all of a sudden they scored and we were hanging on. Lukasz had to make a great save to make sure we got the three points."
