Mowbray in favour of Fortune

Fortune: Key player for Bhoys

We'll set the team up to stay in the game but we'll also be pushing the longer the game goes on and hopefully we get the rewards out of it

Tony Mowbray
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Tony Mowbray is pinning his hopes on Marc-Antoine Fortune to bring goals back to the Celtic team.

Fortune returned from injury to come off the bench during Celtic's 3-0 victory over Kilmarnock on Saturday and is pushing for a starting berth in Thursday's crunch Europa League clash against Hamburg in Germany.

Prior to the Killie success, Celtic had tasted victory just once in six games and their disappointing European campaign has come largely unstuck due to a series of squandered chances in front of goal.

But Bhoys boss Mowbray believes his side's fortunes will change with the return of his summer signing despite the criticism the former Nancy and West Brom performer has received for a lack of goals since joining the Hoops.

The French forward was beginning to win over his doubters when scoring a brace against St Johnstone before suffering a knee problem during defeat against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League qualifier.

And Mowbray insists the 28-year-old's link-up play has been sorely missed during his two-month lay-off with the knee complaint.

Missed

"It's easy to look back and say that we've missed Marc but you always miss good players when they are out," he told the Celtic View .

"He adds something different to the team. When he was fit and available at the start of the season, the team was generally scoring goals.

"He gives us a different dimension to the qualities of Scott McDonald and Georgios Samaras.

"Those two players have worked very hard for us, but Marc's work with his back to goal can give us a platform.

"We will look to utilise him and the other strikers as the season goes on. They all have a part to play, but I was delighted with Marc's return."

Lone-role?

Fortune's ability to hold the ball up could be utilised by Mowbray as he seeks to settle into the game against Hamburg, who won 1-0 at Parkhead two weeks ago.

All signs suggest Mowbray will opt for one up front despite Celtic sitting bottom of the group with just one point from three games.

"You can never know how a game pans out, but we need to make sure we stay in the football match," he said.

"Hamburg have talented players, but we could also see from the first game that we can compete with them.

"We will give them respect, but we know we have to score a goal over there.

"We'll set the team up to stay in the game but we'll also be pushing the longer the game goes on and hopefully we get the rewards out of it."