Celtic captain Scott Brown could miss three months

The Hoops skipper will miss the crucial Europa League Group A clash with Ajax at Parkhead on Thursday night after damaging ligaments in the goalless draw against Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Deila said: "Scott Brown is out for a while, he is not available. We don't know for sure yet but I heard it's eight to 12 weeks.

"It is nothing to do with the previous one. It was very unfortunate in a challenge near the end of the game.

"We hope that (an operation) is not necessary. We are waiting for the experts to look at the pictures so we can be even more sure what to do, if it is going to be an operation or not.

"It is always tough to lose your captain but, having said that, in the last period he was out we won a lot of games.

Midfielders Stefan Johansen and Nir Bitton are suspended, while fellow midfielder Kris Commons is likely to miss out again with a combination of a hamstring injury and illness, although Charlie Mulgrew has recovered from the thigh injury which has kept him out since September.

"Kris has been a little bit sick but he had the injury after the Molde game," said Deila. "It is likely it will be a little too early. He trained today but was not feeling at his best.

"I am not fearing anything but of course there is going to be big changes in the midfield.

"We have to put together a new one but we have a lot of good players and we are going to have a good team.

"Of course it is more tricky, a lot of the experience is out but again we have players who can fill those roles."

After back-to-back defeats at the hands of surprise package Molde, Celtic sit bottom of Group A with two points from four matches, while opponents Ajax are one point ahead.

Norwegian outfit Molde have qualified with 10 points and play Turkish giants Fenerbahce, who are second with five points.

While a draw could still see Celtic get through, wins against the Dutch side and Fenerbahce in their final two games will definitely take them into the knockout stages and Deila is banking on needing those six points.

"We have a very clear match plan of what we want to do tomorrow, players know what is expected," the former Stromsgodset boss said.

"It is just to go out and enjoy the match, that is important. There is nothing to fear - it is a football match where we have a big opportunity.

"I want to see energy, players that want to show their best and want the ball and fight as a team and then I know that we have qualities that can win the game for us.

"We have to go win the game and I think that is the same for Ajax.

"They want to win so it is going to be a very interesting game and I am really looking forward to it.

"It is a big game and a big opportunity to get three points, it puts us in a situation where we can do it ourselves in the last game in Turkey."

Provisional squad: Gordon, Lustig, Blackett, Ambrose, Simunovic, Boyata, Tierney, Izaguirre, Mulgrew, Forrest, Allan, Armstrong, Rogic, Commons, Cole, Mackay-Steven, Ciftci, Griffiths, Janko, McGregor, Bailly