Gordon Strachan has defended Celtic's away record in the Champions League and insists they are improving.

The Scottish champions have never won away from Glasgow since the old European Cup was rebranded, but they have another chance to make amends tonight against Shakhtar Donetsk in their first Group D fixture.

Strachan's side lost 5-0 to Artmedia Bratislava in his first Champions League qualifier at the start of the 2005/06 campaign. Last season, Celtic were beaten away by Manchester United, FC Copenhagen and Benfica but still managed to get through to the group stages with nine points garnered at home. Celtic lost to eventual winners AC Milan in the last 16 through a Kaka goal in extra-time at the San Siro.

The Parkhead side drew 1-1 against Spartak Moscow in the Luzhniki Stadium in the first leg of this season's third qualifying round before going through on penalties to join Shakhtar, AC Milan and Benfica in a tricky group.

"If you count AC Milan taking over 100 minutes trying to score against us last season and then us drawing against Spartak as poor, then fair enough. I think it's good."

Celtic expect left-back Lee Naylor to be fit to take his place after the former Wolves player missed training yesterday.

Polish striker Maciej Zurawski is also available, despite missing Saturday's 5-0 win over Inverness Caledonian Thistle through illness.

Group D Shakhtar Donetsk v Celtic Venue: RSC Olympiyskiy Stadium Kick-off: 7.45pm On TV: Setanta Sports 1, Sky Sports 2