Scott McDonald has vowed to put his Europa League disappointment behind him – by scoring against Falkirk in the SPL on Sunday. The Celtic forward has the best of his team’s chances against Hamburg in Thursday night’s Europa League clash but failed to convert as the game finished goalless.
McDonald knows his side face an almost impossible task to qualify for the knockout stages of the competition but has already turned his attention to league duty. With Marc-Antoine Fortune now fit, the striker knows that he will have to get scoring if he wants to keep his starting slot and he is determined to show his value by scoring against Falkirk.
"I am looking forward to getting the boots back on for Sunday and hopefully putting a few in the net - that's if I play,” he told PA Sport.
"You just never know what's coming, that's just the way it is at the moment.
"Everyone is fighting for a place and there is good competition. Marc-Antoine Fortune is back as well so you don't know what the manager is thinking.”
McDonald had two gilt-edged chances to score in the match against Hamburg but could not find a way past goalkeeper Frank Rost. Celtic had played well throughout the match but it was a familiar story for Tony Mowbray’s men as they failed to convert possession into goals.
"I'm pretty unhappy about it but I won't let it get me down,” McDonald added.
"I thought I had scored but you have to give the keeper a bit of credit. It does help when you are six foot six, and he got down very well, very quickly.
"You always think you could have done a bit more when you don't score but it's encouraging that we made the chances."
Though the side will go from facing a side at the top end of the Bundesliga to on one at the foot of the SPL, the Australian was wary of showing complacency. Celtic and Falkirk are separated by 19 points already but the Parkhead club know they need to keep winning with Hibs and Rangers breathing down their necks.
“We have to turn up at Falkirk and have the right attitude,” McDonald admitted.
"Falkirk are a good footballing team and they will make things very difficult for us.
"So it is up to us to show professionalism and get the win."
Last updated: 06 November 2009, 07:26
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