Cesc Fabregas is expected to start in the number nine position for Barcelona in their Champions League clash with Celtic in Scotland on Tuesday evening.

The Spanish outfit are without the services of Lionel Messi through injury, with Fabregas poised to start through the middle against the Scottish champions.

Indications in training this week are that Pedro will edge out Alexis Sanchez for the wide right position, leaving Brazilian forward Neymar to operate from the left.

Fabregas, who was strongly linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer, scored 14 times in all competitions for his hometown club last season.