Football: The threat of Cadete

THE VISIT of Sporting Lisbon to Parkhead tonight will provide Celtic with a welcome diversion from the confusion surrounding their attempts to find a permanent replacement for the manager's chair vacated by Liam Brady.

It is unlikely the club will have made an appointment before the first leg of this Uefa Cup second- round tie, although Celtic's chairman Kevin Kelly was 'still hopeful' yesterday that Lou Macari would be named as Brady's successor in time for the 6.45 kick-off.

Either way, Bobby Robson, the former England manager who coaches Sporting, will not be concerned. 'It doesn't make much difference to me,' Robson said, 'although I do recognise that an appointment can give a side a lift. Whether that happens before the match I don't know. In any case, it won't affect my plans.'

The player most likely to provide the greatest danger to Celtic is the striker Jorge Cadete, who scored twice in Portugal's 5-0 World Cup qualifying win over Scotland in Lisbon six months ago.

Cadete's threat may be magnified by the disruption of the partnership at the heart of the Celtic defence. Mike Galloway is out with an ankle injury, while Mark McNally was sent home yesterday with a virus and is doubtful. The midfielder Peter Grant has only a 50-50 chance of playing because of a knee injury.

Judging by their performance in the first round against Young Boys of Berne, Celtic may have to produce a performance in the spirit of the 'Lions of Lisbon', who won the European Cup in 1967, in the second leg if they are to reach the third round.

Remembrance of great things past will be used to inspire Aberdeen when they meet Torino at the Stadio Delle Alpi in the Cup-Winners' Cup. Willie Miller, the Aberdeen manager, wants the present team to write a chapter of European history to match that of the 1983 side who lifted the trophy when he was captain.