KRIS BOYD TELLS CELTIC STRIKER HOGH NOT TO FEAR MISSING

Kris Boyd, a former Rangers and Scotland striker, has said Celtic forward Kasper Hogh should not be afraid to miss chances, as the player continues to search for the form he showed earlier in the season. Boyd's comments follow a slow run for Hogh since his summer move to Celtic, with his finishing described as increasingly hesitant in recent matches. The remarks come ahead of Celtic's Europa League fixture against Benfica on Thursday in Lisbon. Benfica's head coach, Marco Silva, has hinted that he could make significant changes to his starting line-up for the meeting.

Hogh scored a hat-trick in only his second appearance for Celtic following his arrival, in a transfer reported to be worth a potentially club-record fee. Since that performance, his touch in front of goal has grown less assured, and the hold-up play that marked his early games has also declined, according to one assessment of Celtic's summer signings. The same assessment recorded an average of 2.6 unsuccessful touches per game for the striker. Celtic currently sit top of the Scottish Premiership, but the club endured a run of three consecutive league defeats before the international break. Earlier in the season, Celtic also surrendered a four-goal lead in a match that cost them qualification for the Champions League. The team returned to winning form on Sunday with a victory over Motherwell.

Celtic travel to face Benfica in the Europa League on Thursday evening in Lisbon, with Silva's comments suggesting changes to Benfica's line-up before kick-off. Hogh's form remains one of the issues facing Celtic this season, with one assessment of the club's summer signings describing unresolved problems for Martin O'Neill to address. Boyd's advice to the striker reflects broader discussion of his confidence in front of goal since his early scoring return faded. Neither club has confirmed team selection for Thursday's match.