Source: Team_Talk
Samaras 'ready' to down Dinamo
Greece international Samaras is thought to be behind Scott McDonald and new signing Marco-Antoine Fortune in the Parkhead pecking order despite helping secure the Wembley Cup in Sunday's 2-0 win against Spurs.
Celtic play their first competitive game under Tony Mowbray on Wednesday night when Dinamo visit Glasgow in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round.
Samaras said: "It's up to the gaffer to decide if I play one minute or 90 - but I can tell him I'm fully prepared and ready to take on Dinamo.
"I'm never totally happy with my performance. I have never left a pitch and felt I was at the top of my game.
"And it's a challenge for everyone to have a new striker here.
"If there are three of four good strikers you have to push on and prove you are good enough to be selected.
"Last year, we only had three strikers and for long spells I was out injured and Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink also.
"It's good for the boss to have four fit and quality strikers."
Also desperate to play a part is midfielder Massimo Donati, who was frozen out under former boss Gordon Strachan but has found a new lease of life under Mowbray.
Donati, 28, starred in Friday's 5-0 Wembley thrashing of Al-Ahly but has not started a competitive match since February.
"The arrival of the new manager was a small turning point for me and I now feel ready to take the season by the horns at Celtic,"
said Donati.
"It won't be a disappointment if I don't move away. Obviously, I
expressed my desire to leave at the end of last season.
"But only because things were so difficult working with the former coach, Gordon Strachan.
"Now things have changed. The new manager has made me feel I'm a more important part of the team.
"In fact, at 28, I'm now one of the older players in the side and I feel I can help the younger players with my experience.
"We have some big games coming up in Europe that will influence our whole season. I now feel I am a key member of the team and I want to show it."
