CELTIC star Alan Thompson admitted today that he and his team-mates would love to play in the Barclaycard Premiership.

The former Bolton and Aston Villa midfielder swapped the English top flight for the Scottish Premier League in a £2.75million move two years ago.

But that has not dulled his desire to one day return to the Premiership with Martin O'Neill and the rest of the Celtic players.

Thompson said: "No disrespect, but the players at Celtic would love to play in the Premiership week in, week out.

"But that's not going to happen overnight and until it does happen then we have got to get on with it."

The arrival of Blackburn at Parkhead tonight in the first instalment of the "Battle of Britain" UEFA Cup tie gives the players a great chance to show they could live with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United if the dream was to become reality.

But while the 28-year-old former England Under-21 international is convinced Celtic would hold their own south of the border - he denies his team-mates have anything to prove.

"It goes without question that the Old Firm clubs could handle it down there so we have nothing to prove," added Thompson. "We just want to win the tie.''

Thompson feels that the atmosphere inside Parkhead is one of the best in Britain and far more intimidating than what they can expect at Ewood Park in a fortnight.

"I would put the noise at Celtic Park up there with one of the best in Britain," insisted Thompson.

"It will be up there with an Old Firm match. The atmosphere and the passion will be electric. There's a lot at stake."

But despite the fan power, the Celtic star acknowledges that his team-mates need to be at their best to secure the perfect result - a victory and clean sheet.

"They have some top-class players who have played at the top for a long time," conceded Thompson.

"They might not be overawed so it will be up to us. We have had a lot of competitive games this season and we are going into the game in a positive frame of mind.

"It's Blackburn against Celtic not Scotland against England. The supporters will be fired up, but we are treating it as a cup tie against another side.

"They are doing well at the minute and are hitting a good run of form and they are definitely a top seven or eight side.

"They can do damage and we have to shut up shop and keep a clean sheet. If we can then Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson can get a few goals."