Mowbray ready to assess his Bhoys

11 July 2009 15:34
Mowbray takes to the dug-out as Hoops boss for the first time on Sunday for the match in Australia and is determined to begin his reign with a win. It will be his first chance to see the squad he inherited from Gordon Strachan this summer in action as he prepares for the new SPL season. There could also be an opportunity for fans at the match to see Marc-Antoine Fortune in a hooped jersey for the first time, just days after sealing a reported £3.8million move from Nancy. "I've been working with the players for a few weeks now and I'm looking forward to seeing the likes of Scott McDonald performing," said the Celtic boss. "I've watched these guys from afar in England and now I can go and work with them. "Marc-Antoine Fortune is on the trip with us and I'm looking forward to gelling all our strikers together. "We are taking this match very seriously. It's about getting a balance. "We want to protect players but we are always expected to win and we'll be trying to do that." The clash with Roar is the first of four pre-season friendlies before Celtic's opening Champions League qualifier. Mowbray added: "I'm delighted to be here and I look forward to this game immensely. "This is my first visit to Australia and it's great to come and meet the fans. "Celtic supporters are known all over the world and it's fantastic to be in charge of a club with such a worldwide following. "We are here to show our support to these fans in Australia. We want to give them something back for the support they show us. "We're looking forward to the event and hopefully we can give them something to shout about." McDonald will wear the captain's armband in the absence of injured skipper Stephen McManus. And the Australian striker warned that their hosts are not to be underestimated. He told the club's website: "Like all Australian sides, they will be very fit, but Roar are also strong technically. "The A-League is improving all the time and Australian soccer is getting better. It's going to be a hard game."

Source: Team_Talk