Chris Sutton reckons the likes of Newcastle will want to avoid Celtic in next season's Champions League group stages.

The Hoops will feature in the groups for a second successive season.

After winning another Premiership title, the Scottish champions, therefore, bagged their place with an automatic spot in the competition in the 2023/24 campaign.

Brendan Rodgers and his team won't find out who they will take on in the groups until the draw is made on August 31, just over two months away.

The qualification rounds need to take place first, which will involve Rangers.

It's also still unclear which pot Celtic will be drawn from, as their fate depends on the other clubs that reach the group stage. They will either come out of pot three or four, though.

In the groups, teams from the same pot and country cannot be drawn together. So, for example, Manchester City could not end up in the same group as Manchester United.

Likewise, Celtic could not face off against Rangers in the UCL groups either.

But that's not to say another grudge match couldn't take place.

Newcastle qualified for the tournament for the first time since 2003 thanks to their exploits in the Premier League under Eddie Howe this season.

The Englishman infamously rejected Celtic after months of talks with the club in 2021, as the Hoops aimed to replace Neil Lennon.

Ange Postecoglou was then swiftly appointed and the Hoops have never looked back.

But the fans haven't forgotten about Howe's decision, and Sutton believes his former club would "worry" Newcastle should they be drawn together.

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Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, the pundit said: "I don’t know what pot Celtic are in actually, I would have to find that out.

“But if Newcastle drew Celtic, then Newcastle would worry about that draw, if they can get through to the knockouts."

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