Martin O'Neill would just as soon have his lads at home, but he'll trot out his Glasgow Celtic team tonight at the SkyDome against AS Roma, hoping none of his key players incurs an injury. It will mark the fourth match in eight days on the ChampionsWorld Series exhibition tour for the Scottish side -- which the manager feels is one game too many.
GRUELLING GAME
With a week to go before their season kicks off, O'Neill doesn't want to see any of his team limping off the pitch from what he feels will be a gruelling game against the Italian giants. Celtic already has played Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United on the tour.
"We had two games last season when we went to Seattle and Cleveland and then had some qualifying games in the Champions League," O'Neill said.
"That was a big concern for me last season. The travelling -- and we have done more this time -- does take it out of you.
"But I would have probably have preferred a game fewer to get a wee bit more time to prepare."
Celtic plays England's Newcastle in its final exhibition game on Wednesday before opening its Scottish league schedule at home on Saturday against Motherwell.
"That's the game we have to prepare for," O'Neill said.
But O'Neill said he is confident that Celtic will be able to start the season off well, despite disappointing efforts against Chelsea and Liverpool in the past week.
"I look at some of the 17-year-olds we have in the dressing room -- and I'm not saying every young player on this trip will make the grade -- but it is encouraging and a great experience for them," O'Neill said.
CHAMPIONSWORLD ROSTERS
Lineups for tonight's AS Roma-Celtic soccer match, beginning at 8 p.m., at the SkyDome:
AS ROMA
2. Christian Panucci, DEF
7. Luigi Sartor, DEF
9. Vincenzo Montella, FWD
10. Francesco Totti, FWD
12. Carlo Zotti, GOAL
15. Olivier Dacourt, MID
17. Damiano Tommasi, MID
18. Antonio Cassano, FWD
21. Gaetano D'Agostino, MID
24. Marco Delvecchio, FWD
31. Traianos Dellas, DEF
32. Vincent Candela, DEF
34. Daniele Corvia, FWD
35. Gianluca Curci, GOAL
-- Leandro Cufre, DEF
-- Philippe Mexes, DEF
-- Damiano Ferronetti
-- Fabrizio Grillo
-- Maurizio Lanzaro
-- Simone Perrotta
-- Pietro Pipolo
-- Alessandro Simonetta
-- Valerio Virga
Cesare Prandelli, Manager
CELTIC
3. Mohammed Sylla, MID
4. Jackie McNamara, DEF
5. Joos Valgaeren, DEF
6. Dianbobb Balde, DEF
8. Alan Thompson, MID
9. Chris Sutton, FWD
10. John Hartson, FWD
11. Stephen Pearson, MID
12. David Fernandez, FWD
14. Paul Lambert, MID
15. Bobby Petta, MID
16. Ulrik Laursen, DEF
17. Didier Agathe, FWD
18. Neil Lennon, MID
19. Stilian Petrov, MID
20. Roberts Douglas, GOAL
21. Magnus Hedman, GOAL
22. David Marshall, GOAL
23. Stanislav Varga, DEF
29. Shaun Maloney, DEF
33. Ross Wallace, MID
37. Craig Beattie, FWD
41. John Kennedy, DEF
44. Stephen McManus
45. Kevin McBride
46. Aidan McGeady
Martin O'Neill, Manager
