Celtic boss Tony Mowbray has played down the Hoops Europa League clash with Hamburg, claiming it is not a do-or-die contest.

Celtic (8/11 to win the SPL outright this season) are currently bottom of Group C having picked up just one point from their first two matches and now face the German giants (4/6 to win Group C).

However, Hamburg (7/5 to beat Celtic in the match betting) are without eight first team players and played out a hard fought 0-0 with current Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen (5/1 to win the German league outright), with Mladen Petric, Jose Paolo Guerrero and Tolgay Arslan all limping off during that game.

Mowbray is able to call on Glenn Loovens and Andreas Hinkel for the clash at Celtic Park, after both missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Motherwell.

Landry N’Guemo also returns to the side as Celtic (19/10 in the match betting to beat Hamburg) target the much need win they need to kick start their Europa League campaign.

Despite their current position in the group, and with only one home game left after Thursday, Mowbray has played down talk that this is a must win game for Celtic.

“I don’t do must-win games unless it is the last game of the season,” said Mowbray. “I would not put that pressure on my players.”