AJ: WE HAVE TO TAKE KIA OF THE HOME LEG FIRST

ALISTAIR JOHNSTON insists Celtic will be going out all guns blazing to get off to a Champions League first leg flier.

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

The Hoops face FC Kairat in Glasgow on Wednesday before the 7,000-mile return trek to Kazakhstan the following week and Johnston is determined to make it as comfortable a journey as possible.

Celts geared up for the £40m showdown by flattening Falkirk 4-1 in the Premier Sports Cup on Friday.

Parkhead chiefs are working hard to bring in reinforcements ahead of the clash - including long-term targets Mikel-Angel Balikwisha at Anderlecht and Slovan Bratislava striker David Strelec.

But Johnston's focus is on building the perfect platform before sealing the deal on the road.