Celtic striker Georgios Samaras has called on his teammates to remain calm ahead of the second leg of their Champions League playoff clash against Shakhter Karagandy on Wednesday.

The Hoops trail 2-0 from the first leg after losing in Kazakhstan last week, but the 28-year-old is confident that the Scottish club will secure progression at Celtic Park.

"The early goal would be perfect but we don't need to panic. We need to keep playing our game, keep moving the ball really well and the chances will come," he told PA.

"I don't care if the goals come in the last 10 minutes or the first 10 minutes, it is 90 minutes, there is plenty of time. The main thing is to be clinical with the chances we create.

"We believe in our team, our talent and we fully respect Shakhter but at Celtic Park, with a full house, anything can happen. It is a big game. We want to be back in the Champions League group stages and hopefully everything will be okay."

Should Shakhter advance, they will become the first team from Kazakhstan to reach the group stages of the Champions League.