Aiden McGeady will play for Celtic in their Champions League third qualifying round match with Braga, unless Neil Lennon is instructed otherwise. The winger has been linked with a move away from the SPL club this summer, with Aston Villa said to be waiting to make an offer.

But as Villa boss Martin O’Neill continues to stall on making a deal with his former club for McGeady happen, the Republic of Ireland international has travelled to Portugal with his current club. McGeady is on Celtic’s official squad list for the match, which was submitted last Thursday, despite having missed pre-season with a thigh injury.

The player stayed at home as his team-mates played a four game tour of North America and hasn’t played for the first team since the final SPL game of last season. But McGeady’s manager Lennon insists he will name the player in his team as long as he is still available to him.

“Unless I'm told differently, Aiden is playing, unless something happens with him in the next 24 hours or so,” Lennon told the Scottish Sun. “I don't know if he'll be over the line with a deal or not. But he is still a Celtic player.

“I haven't spoken to him since America, but he has to put everything to the back of his mind and concentrate on playing football for us.

“He has trained with us and he's a naturally fit boy. Judging by the way he trained, he is ready to start the game.”

Spartak Moscow have also been attributed with an interest in McGeady, who made his debut as an 18-year-old in 2004. Now 24, he has been persistently linked with a move away from Celtic Park, with a fee of £10 million frequently quoted.

AIDEN MCGEADY'S CELTIC FUTURE

• Milner move could make McGeady's departure likely

Aston Villa are believed to be relying on the sale of England international James Milner before they can bring in any new players. Milner remains part of O’Neill’s squad at present however, joining the team in a pre-season tour of Portugal this week.

If McGeady played for Celtic against Braga and then moved to either Villa or Spartak, he may then find himself ineligible to play in Europe for his new club. If Celtic go on to play in the group stages of either the Champions League or Europa League, and McGeady has featured, he would be prohibited from turning out for any new side in Europe this season.