Martin O’Neill has explained his Celtic team selection against Benfica after leaving Benjamin Nygren and Liam Scales out of his starting eleven for tonight’s Europa League clash in Lisbon.

Oliver Sørensen has been handed a starting place following Celtic’s win over Motherwell, while Nygren drops to the bench despite scoring at Fir Park.

O’Neill has revealed that the Swedish international recently suffered from a virus and explained why he wants to give Sørensen an opportunity against the Portuguese side.

Martin O’Neill explains Nygren illness and Scales decision

Speaking to Celtic’s official media before kick-off, O’Neill explained what he hopes Sørensen can bring to his team.

O’Neill said: “Sorensen I want to see. He’s got good running power. Nygren, he’s had a bit of a virus way back from Sweden. He had to end his time early.”

Nygren scored his seventh goal of the season against Motherwell before Sørensen replaced him in the 78th minute. The Danish midfielder then came close to scoring himself, with goalkeeper Alex Paulsen tipping his late header over the crossbar.

Scales also completed the full 90 minutes at Fir Park, but O’Neill expects to use the Irish defender from the bench against Benfica.

The Hoops boss continued: “Scales is so important to us. I’m sure both of them will be on the field at some stage this evening as well too.

“But just changing things around a little bit, but not that much.”

Scales’ omission comes with Cameron Carter-Vickers unavailable because of a hamstring injury, leaving O’Neill without one of his most experienced central defenders.

O’Neill tells Celtic players to ‘just go for it’ against Benfica

O’Neill believes Sunday’s victory over Motherwell has given his players confidence ahead of a difficult European fixture.

The Celtic manager was particularly encouraged by the chances his side created at Fir Park, where goals from Camilo Duran and Nygren ended a run of three consecutive defeats.

O’Neill said: “I think winning breeds confidence for a start.” As I said, it’s a tough old task. Not to worry about it, honestly. Just go for it.”

Celtic are looking for their first points of the Europa League campaign after losing 3-1 to Ferencvaros, while Benfica opened with a 2-0 victory away to AC Milan.

The Portuguese side have been scoring freely under Marco Silva and already demolished Hearts 6-1 earlier this season.

O’Neill knows the scale of the task at the Estádio da Luz. After watching Celtic create numerous opportunities against Motherwell, however, he wants his players to take that attacking approach into tonight’s game.