Commons Wore Disguise For Euro Game

Kris Commons has explained he felt like a badly-dressed computer football fan when watching Celtic play Inter Milan on Thursday night. The midfielder missed out on the first leg of the last-32 tie due to a hamstring injury and disguised himself to sit among friends in the Jock Stein Stand to see a thrilling 3-3 game unfold. Commons returned against Hamilton on Sunday to grab a double in the 4-0 Scottish Premiership win at Celtic Park - Stefan Johansen and John Guidetti scored the others - to take the Hoops three points clear of Aberdeen at the top of the table ahead of the trip to the San Siro on Thursday night. Afterwards he recalled his unusual insight from the Inter game, saying: I watched it in the Jock Stein Stand and it was difficult for me because it was probably the first game I had watched from behind the goal with football fans."I had friends up to watch the game because hopefully I was going to get involved in it." But I didn't see the point of sitting in the players' lounge, behind glass, without the atmosphere."I was covered up. I had my missus's hat on which was disgraceful. It was a purple thing with a bobble and it didn't really fit my head. It was awful. I also had a snood and a hood up." It was like watching PlayStation. You see every pass, every bit of space and you question, 'why has he not seen that?'."But when you are at ground level, playing at that pace, in that atmosphere; the players you are playing against, the competition you are in, it is very difficult to pick the right pass in a split-second." I felt as if I could probably make an impact but being on the park it would have been a different kettle of fish.'' Commons admits there was a time he would have gambled with his fitness against Inter but hopes he has worked himself back into Ronny Deila's plans for the second leg. He said:If I had been younger I would have played but there is a lot of football to be played and I wanted to be involved in the run-in rather than just the one game." It was nice to come back and get the three points. Hopefully I have done enough to get into the starting 11."I think we will get chances but hopefully we can keep them at bay. But it is going to be a difficult task.'' Deila was very pleased'' with his side's performance against Hamilton and revealed defender Jason Denayer came off at the interval with cramp in his calf but would be okay for Milan." However, it remains to be seen if Anthony Stokes will be on the plane after being left out again. The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international was late back to training last week, with the Celtic boss saying:It was an internal thing and we dealt with it.'' Stokes was dropped from the squad for the Inter game and was missing again against Hamilton. Deila claimed it was 100 per cent'' a football decision while stating the player still had a future at the club." The Norwegian said:We are after development and Anthony has things he has to improve on and he is very motivated to do that." We have a very strong squad. It is very tough to play now.'' Since taking over as Hamilton player/manager from Alex Neil last month, Martin Canning has still to win after eight games. The New Douglas Park defender said:Obviously the run we are on is not ideal." But the only thing we can do is work even harder and that is one thing this group will do. For the first hour we did what we set out to do in terms of frustrating Celtic. We started the second half reasonably well and with more quality on the ball but we lose the ball cheaply and with the quality Celtic have got, they punish you. From there it was difficult.''