Egypt star Haitham Hassan set for Celtic Champions League debut after Celtic move

Celtic are preparing for a crucial Champions League qualifying tie against Austrian side LASK, with new signing Haitham Hassan set to be part of the Scottish giants’ squad for the two-legged encounter.

The Scottish giants will host LASK at Celtic Park on Wednesday, August 19, in the first leg of the tie, before travelling to Austria for the return fixture on August 25.

The winner will advance to the Champions League play-off round, making the upcoming matches particularly important for Celtic as they look to secure a place among Europe’s elite.

Hassan is expected to be among the players available to coach Martin O’Neill after completing his move to Celtic during the current transfer window.

The Scottish club announced the signing of the highly rated attacker on a four-year contract that will keep him at Celtic until 2030.

Celtic reportedly paid an initial £6 million for the player, with the deal potentially rising by a further £3 million through performance-related bonuses and other incentives.

The sizeable investment underlines the club’s confidence in Hassan and their belief that he can make an immediate contribution to their ambitions domestically and in Europe.

According to Scottish outlet Celts Are Here, Celtic have been particularly active in the transfer market as O’Neill looks to strengthen his squad ahead of a demanding campaign.

Hassan is regarded as one of the important additions to the team, with his arrival expected to provide additional attacking quality and depth.

The Egyptian will now have the opportunity to make his European debut for Celtic in one of the most important fixtures of the early season.

Celtic have reportedly not yet closed the door on further changes to their Champions League squad.

The club still has time to make amendments to its squad before the first leg against LASK, with the deadline for registering additional players understood to be Tuesday evening.

That gives Celtic an opportunity to complete any remaining administrative procedures and ensure their new signings are available for the crucial European tie.

Hassan will be hoping to be included in the final squad and make his first appearance for Celtic on the biggest stage.

The winger arrives at Celtic with considerable expectations following the club’s decision to invest a potential £9 million in his services.

For the player, the upcoming Champions League fixtures represent an opportunity to begin his Celtic career in memorable fashion.

Celtic know they will need to produce strong performances over both legs if they are to overcome LASK and progress to the next stage.

The first leg at Celtic Park will provide O’Neill’s side with the chance to establish an advantage before travelling to Austria for the decisive return fixture.

Hassan will be eager to play a role in helping Celtic secure a positive result at home and carry momentum into the second leg.

The Egyptian has already made a strong impression since arriving at the club, and supporters will be keen to see what he can offer once competitive action begins.

His pace, attacking ability and versatility could provide Celtic with another weapon as they attempt to break down LASK.

For Hassan, the objective is straightforward: help Celtic win the tie and move one step closer to the Champions League proper.

With the first leg scheduled for August 19 and the return fixture taking place six days later in Austria, the new Celtic signing could quickly find himself at the centre of one of the club’s most important moments of the season.

A successful qualifying campaign would not only give Hassan an ideal start to his Celtic career but also bring the club closer to securing a place in Europe’s premier club competition.