GRAEME Souness may not have said it out loud but you could sense how much progress in the UEFA Cup would mean to him last night.

His side will have to overturn a 1-0 deficit after they lost to Larsson's strike but the Rovers boss is insisting his priorities still lie elsewhere.

"This is not a priority for us," he repeated. "I know people up here think I am kidding but I mean it."

But watching him on the touchline, urging his players forward and applauding the travelling fans in front of those who came to jeer him, you sensed he was relishing his return to Glasgow.

In the press room, he sparred with his old adversaries from the Scottish media who tried to suggest he had delayed his arrival on the bench at the start of the match to make a point to the home fans.

"I went to the toilet - and I washed my hands," he smiled.

He also smiled at the string of stories that have appeared north of the border, apparently having a go at him for arriving by train, training at Rangers and any number of other things.

"A lot of people have done well out of my return and I just hope they all got well paid," he said.

And when it was suggested to him that because of the way Rovers had outplayed Celtic they would be favourites to go through, despite the defeat, there was again a twinkle in the Souness eyes.

"We are the small club, this is a big one," he suggested, leaving the answer hanging in the air to be interpreted as anyone felt fit.

"I think Celtic will be delighted with the result. They have got passionate support and they don't like me because I used to be with Rangers, but I can live with that."

Never mind live with it, Souey seemed to love it!

Picture special of the Rovers v Celtic clash... click here.