Celtic To Face Dinamo Moscow In Europe

N'Guemo Arrives On Loan From AS Nancy

Celtic will face a tough challenge from the Russian Premier Liga's Dinamo Moscow after being drawn against them in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League.

The first leg will be played at Parkhead on July 29, with the bhoys travelling to Moscow for the return leg on August 5.

Manager Tony Mowbray was realistic about the challenge posed by the Moscow outfit saying, "Russian teams are very fit, methodical and organised and I'm sure they will give us a tough test.

"But I'm sure they are looking at the draw and thinking it is a big ask for them.

"We are happy to take whoever it was and I don't have any preferences in cup draws. We are not in the industry of making excuses.

"In a strange sort of way, while you would like to play the second game of the tie at home, after the travelling we have done it is a benefit that we will be at home first."

This is the second time that Celtic have faced a Russian side in Europe, having beaten Spartak Moscow on penalties in 2007 to advance to the group phase.

Marc-Antoine Fortune's AS Nancy teammate, defender Landry N'Guemo has joined Celtic on a season-long loan, with the option of signing him permanently at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old Cameroon international has played for AS Nancy for the last four years, appearing over 100 times for the French Ligue 1 side.

Talking to the club's website, N'Guemo expressed his pleasure in moving to Parkhead: "This is a fantastic honour to sign for a club of Celtic's stature with its wonderful history and magnificent supporters.

"I'm looking forward to playing for this great club over the next year and hopefully extending my stay at Celtic beyond that."

Mowbray, who had made full use of the loan system while managing the Championship's West Brom, explained the decision to sign N'Guemo saying, "We are happy to have Landry on board and he creates competition in a part of the field that we are a little bit lighter in than we were last year, with (Shunsuke) Nakamura and (Paul) Hartley moving on.

"It's a part of the pitch that we needed to add numbers too, he's a young boy who can come in and increase the competition for places in the side and I am looking forward to working with him and seeing how he gets on."