David Martindale pinpoints 3 Celtic stars who won't know what they're in for as Livingston boss banks on Euro hangover

Davie Martindale hopes the switch from Champions League to Livingston knocks Celtic off their stride.

The Lions boss was himself taken aback by the atmosphere as the Bhoys went down 2-0 to Feyenoord in their opening group clash at a packed out De Kuip in The Netherlands on Tuesday night. And even though Brendan Rodgers’ side will be backed by 8,000 of their own fans at the Tony Macaroni Arena on Saturday, Martindale accepts the glamour of playing in Europe is far cry from taking on Livingston on a plastic pitch.

He said: “There is a mental energy, mental fatigue, not just the physical side of it after playing in Europe. You have to try and use every advantage you can. I thought the atmosphere was brilliant, it’s a stadium I’ve never been at but it was a brilliant stadium, hostile environment, Champions League tune - it’s hard not to get yourself up for those games - even as a fan sitting watching it it’s brilliant.

“Let’s be honest, the synthetic surface, we all want to play on hybrid surfaces of course we do, you have to try and use all these advantage, positives in our favour. When you go away to Parkhead, the surface is slick, 55,000 fans and it’s a big park. The use that to their advantage and we have to try and swing that round to our advantage.

“There’s players at Celtic who have not played here before, the boy (Luis) Palma, (Odin) Holm, (Gustaf) Lagerbielke, they are leaving Feyenoord and that environment and coming to Livingston on Saturday. Although they will be helped by 8,000 Celtic fans being in the stadium so it will feel like a home game to them.”

Saturday’s match kicks off an Old Firm double header, with Livingston heading to Rangers in Viaplay Cup quarter-final action on Wednesday. They face St Johnstone