DINAMO MOSCOW captain Dmitri Khokhlov is out of next week's opening Champions League qualifier against Celtic - after being sent off four years ago.

The suspension has never been served as Khokhlov has not played in any European competitions since then.

But it has finally caught up with him, and it is a huge blow for Dinamo, who are already short of players through injury.

The Russians will warm up for the trip to Glasgow with a game against local rivals Lokomotiv Moscow, a match which Hoops boss Tony Mowbray hopes to see.

If he can get a visa, and travel arrangements fit with the Wembley Cup matches against Al Ahly on Friday and Spurs on Sunday, Mowbray will watch a team confident they can progress to the final qualifying round for the group stages.

Despite Dynamo's problems, striker Fyodor Smolov reckons they can get a good result at Parkhead, then use the backing of their partizan fans to finish off Celtic in Russia on August 5.

Smolov said: "Celtic are a good team with big Champions League experience," he said.

"But it's very good we're playing the first leg away. I'm sure that, with our fans behind us at home, we will show our best.

"It's a real chance for us to get past Celtic."

Team-mate Jovan Tanasijevic is delighted he will not have to try and nullify the threat of Shunsuke Nakamura, now with Espanyol.

The defender said: "I don't know much about Celtic, but I do know one of their best players, Nakamura, has left the club. Celtic are a typical British team, playing many crosses and some pretty physical football."

One man hoping to prove that is not what Mowbray's Celtic side is all about is Massimo Donati.

The midfielder looked set to leave the club and return to Italy in this window. However, he wants to stay and prove he is the man to supply the skill Mowbray wants from the engine room.

Donati said: "I'm 28, the team is young, and I feel I can be an experienced member of the side."