The Aston Villa weakness Celtic could exploit identified by Unai Emery as McGinn sparks Champions League hype train

Winning at Villa Park will be a big ask for Celtic, but their hopes have been given a boost by issues in a key part of Unai Emery's side.

Villa defender Tyrone Mings was forced off in tears during his side's 1-1 draw with West Ham United, with full-back Lucas Digne slotting into centre-half - and being given a torrid time all match. With Mings looking unlikely to be fit for the powder-keg Champions League clash and Pau Torres already side-lined, Emery hinted a weakness the Hoops could exploit, saying: "We have a structure in our build-up and the left centre-back is very important with Tyrone Mings or with Pau Torres. Of course Lucas Digne can play with his left foot, but he needs to get confidence playing more in this position. I needed a left footed player to be in there though."

Former Villa star Lee Hendrie also identified Villa's left as a weakness, speaking on Sky Sports he said: "In the second-half I thought West Ham were excellent, I thought they targeted the left-side with (Ian) Maatsen coming on at left-back and Lucas Digne dropping in at centre-half which just doesn't suit him at all. Tomas Soucek was almost playing right on him. Digne looked so uncomfortable and the game got very bitty. He was way out of his depth."

Scotland hero John McGinn made his return after almost a month on the side-lines, playing the last 20 minutes - but couldn't help his side avoid dropping points, with another Scot, Andy Irving, almost grabbing a late winner for the Hammers.

Celtic can put themselves in with a shot of automatic qualification for the last 16 of the tournament if they can secure a memorable win in Birmingham against the Premier League big-guns. Only 2,100 Hoops fans will be in the away end at Villa Park, but thousands