21.07.2014 19:40 h

Football: No excuses for exiled Celtic says Deila

Celtic manager Ronny Deila insists his exiled side have no excuses for failing to perform in their crucial Champions League clash against KR Reykjavik on Tuesday.

Deila's side have been forced to move to Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh for the second leg of their second qualifying round tie as their Parkhead stadium is out of commission due to its use in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The Hoops are 1-0 up from the first leg against the Icelandic champions and are favourites to book a third round meeting with Polish side Legia Warsaw or Irish outfit St Patrick's as they try to make it to the group stages of Europe's elite club competition in Deila's first season in charge after succeeding Neil Lennon.

After looking at the Murrayfield playing surface, Deila gave it a ringing endorsement and he is adamant his players must seize the chance to kill off Reykjavik rather than dwell on their unusual surroundings at the home of Scottish rugby.

"It is fantastic," he said on Monday. "It is a very good pitch. I don't think there will be any problem.

"The team will have the support and that is important and the pitch is perfect. So no excuses."

The Hoops fans who make their way to the Scottish capital will see a familiar Celtic line-up as Deila has only added former Hearts and Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon to his squad so far and he may not even be on the bench if regular number two Lukasz Zaluska is named as back-up to Fraser Forster.

Deila continues to search for new players, but the Norwegian insists he will not be making signings for the sake of it.

"We are working to try to get someone in. It is a bad time, it costs more money. It is also about finding the right ones. I am after quality," he said.

"It has to be someone who can come straight in and do something at once and that is very difficult.

"If the players aren't going to make the team better then it is better to wait. But we hope to get players in to make the team better and make Celtic better as a club."