Camilo Duran missed Celtic’s final training session on Wednesday and was not on the flight to Portugal for the Europa League match against Benfica.

The Colombian had scored in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Motherwell, with Martin O’Neill declaring him back to his best after the game.

O’Neill was asked about the 24-year-old’s absence at his press conference in Lisbon. He hasn’t ruled Duran out of Thursday night’s match.

The Green Brigade have announced a boycott of Scottish Cup and Europa League matches… thoughts? 👀

Martin O’Neill reveals why Camilo Duran missed Celtic’s Benfica trip

Speaking during his pre-match press conference in Lisbon, O’Neill confirmed that Duran had remained in Scotland for the birth of his child.

O’Neill said: “Camilo is hoping to be out here later on, his partner’s having a baby, so he’d obviously want to be there at the birth.

“It depends on how it goes, I haven’t heard any more news, but if everything goes alright without complications then he’ll come round.”

O’Neill later confirmed that arrangements were being explored to fly Duran to Lisbon, either on Wednesday evening or Thursday.

“He should come out and join us,” the Celtic manager said, although his arrival had not been confirmed at that stage.

Camilo Duran has already punished Benfica in their own stadium

O’Neill has good reason to want Duran available. The Colombian knows his way around the Estadio da Luz, having scored there for Qarabag in the Champions League last September.

Benfica were 2-0 up when Duran helped drag Qarabag back into the match. He set up Leandro Andrade to make it 2-1 after half an hour before scoring the equaliser himself shortly after the restart.

The Portuguese side couldn’t hold on. Oleksii Kashchuk struck four minutes from time to complete a 3-2 comeback win, giving Qarabag their first victory in the Champions League main stage.

Celtic have already suffered a 3-1 defeat to Ferencvaros in Europe this season. A player with Duran’s record against Benfica would be worth having in the squad, especially away from home.

His previous European numbers also make impressive reading.

As we previously highlighted when comparing Duran and Kasper Hogh, the Colombian recorded five goals and one assist in ten Champions League appearances for Qarabag last season.

One of those goals came at the very stadium Celtic visit on Thursday, against opponents who already know the damage he can cause.