Gordon Strachan has hailed the new format of the UEFA Champions League and reckons the extra game that Celtic have at Parkhead could determine their success in this year's competition.

Brendan Rodgers has spoken openly about his desire to make in-roads in European football's flagship contest during his second spell in the dugout, and is relishing the chance to play eight different opponents in one-off games this season.

Former Hoops manager Strachan led Celtic to the last-16 of the competition on two consecutive occasions, during the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons, and enjoyed success in the tournament's group stage at home in front of a full house at Parkhead.

Those campaigns included historic wins over the likes of Alex Ferguson's Manchester United – when Nakamura's 30-yard free-kick got the better of Edwin van Der Sar, AC Milan and Benfica.

Speaking to topoffshorecasinos, Strachan said: "Sometimes people don’t like change, but I think change has been good for the competition over the years, so I’m pleased they’ve looked at it.

"In theory, you’d think that [the new format] could make progressing to the knock-out rounds a wee bit easier because there are more games and more opportunities to win. An extra home game at Celtic Park with the atmosphere that the fans can create will be a massive boost for the club."

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Strachan added: "Most of the teams in the tournament will play at a high standard. There are some great, giant teams in there too.

"I think what Celtic need to do in the Champions League is exactly what Scotland did when they qualified for the European Championships, you need one major scalp under your belt.

"If you can do that, then you’ll have a chance (of qualifying). Scotland got theirs against Spain. In the old format, my teams got a couple in the group stages. We beat AC Milan; we beat Man United. Those were special nights."