CELTIC'S problem in the full-back position is not restricted only to the flanks of Parkhead.

Manchester United are next up for Celtic on the Champions League circuit, and for all that Gordon Strachan can only roll his eyes enviously down the list of riches that is Sir Alex Ferguson's squad list, the Old Trafford boss has had his own problems with full-backs.

Wes Brown's distribution is not the best, while Gary Neville at 32 knows that the best years of his career are effectively behind him.

A look at the Premiership shows the kind of money necessary to spend if you want to buy quality.

Tottenham Hotspur shelled out almost £9m to Rangers for Alan Hutton, and Chelsea have spent a small fortune in trying to make sure they had options when it comes to that problematic area of the pitch.

Paulo Ferreira cost £13m but has never quite settled into the right-back berth, and while Jose Bosingwa looks like he can provide the width in the attacking third that Chelsea crave, he cost a cool £16m.

Three years ago Manchester United plucked a pair of full-back twins from Brazil's under-17 side: Fabio Da Silva on the left and Rafael da Silva on the right.

United hoped to groom them into all-round fullbacks but only Rafael has emerged into the first-team this season.