CELTIC coach Peter Grant today revealed he hopes Aiden McGeady will be fit for the grudge Europa League showdown with Rapid Vienna AND the first Old Firm clash of the season.

McGeady picked up a knock to an ankle after coming on as a second-half substitute for the Hoops in their 4-0 win over Falkirk in the Co-operative Insurance Cup last night.

Parkhead gaffer Tony Mowbray was upset at the injury his star player suffered as the new SPL leaders face a run of huge fixtures.

Celtic medical staff were assessing the fitness of the Republic of Ireland international at the club's multi-million pound training complex at Lennoxtown today.

However, Hoops legend Grant, now a member of Mowbray's backroom team, is optimistic the skilful winger will be okay to take part against Rapid a week tonight and Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday week.

He said: "We are just disappointed that, having put him on late, he picked up a bang on the leg. We are in the process of assessing him just now and will see how he is.

"Thankfully, he walked off the pitch. That was a blessing. Sometimes after 24 hours an injury can appear a lot better than it did just after it happens. We are hopeful that will be the case in this instance."

If McGeady is sidelined, Grant is confident Paddy McCourt is capable of stepping into his boots and performing well against Rapid and Rangers.

The Irish playmaker, who has struggled to establish himself in the first team since moving to Glasgow last year, was outstanding in the triumph over the Bairns.

Grant said: "He can carve chances out of nothing. He has tremendous ability. He has a big part to play. He could play against Rapid Vienna and Rangers. He has proved he can play against anybody."

Meanwhile, Barry Robson admitted he, too, is holding his breath over the fitness of McGeady.

"We hope it might not be as bad as it looks," said Robson. "We need everybody fit and it goes without saying that you want all your best players available, especially because there are so many massive games coming up for us.

"We have St Mirren on Saturday lunchtime and that is the first big one for us, because we want to stay top of the league.

"That means going out and winning our games, but that is easier to achieve when you have a fully-fit squad.

"It is obviously very disappointing for the manager because he has seen me and Mark Wilson come back into the team last night, after being out since he arrived, and he just wants to have a fully-fit squad available to him.

"It will be very disappointing for everyone if it transpires that Aiden has had a bad one.

"But we do have good players who can come in if that is the case. Paddy McCourt was excellent last night and Niall McGinn has been impressive, so the manager will at least feel he has options."

Robson feels he may have to ease his way into the first team after an eight-month absence through injury, but the midfielder has admitted that he is desperate to make an impression on Mowbray.

"The manager has been pretty good with me," he said. "He made sure I took my time coming back from injury. When a new manager comes in you are desperate to show what you have and I just want to get myself in the team."

Robson was welcomed back by the Celtic support, but wants to give them something more substantial to cheer.

"It was nice to hear their support for me," he smiled. "They are always great and I just hope this season that as a team, we can give them plenty to shout about."