Home And Away: Truiden test too hard for Oudenaarde

Sint Truiden are targeting an instant return to the Jupiler League

Jonno Turner takes a rare trip to Belgium for today's column, as well as offering Champions League enlightenment...

The latest summer transfer twist is that Theo Walcott could be off to pastures new after failing to sign a new contract at Arsenal. Apparently, Theo did want to sign on the dotted line, but lost control of the pen and overran it.

Walcott wants the Gunners to make him the best paid player at the club by offering him 70,000-per-week to run very, very fast and then do very, very little.

Manchester City are said to be watching the winger, who admitted that he would be interested in a move to their bench if the opportunity arises.

Three winners for our last four picks has meant a cracking start to this week, and here's to a couple more windfalls to put a smile on the bank manager's face today.

We're off to Scotland for our first, as Celtic welcome Swedish side Helsingborgs in the second leg of their Champions League play-off round tie.

The Hoops secured a 2-0 victory in Scandinavia last week, and that has put them in a fantastic position going into the second part of this encounter on their own patch.

Neil Lennon will be delighted with the manner in which his side ran out comfortable victors but will be desperate to avoid complacency, and I think that the Bhoys will go out to win this one in style.

Five consecutive Parkhead wins ensure that confidence is high, and four clean sheets in that time shows just how dominant Lennon's men have been in front of their fans.

Helsingborgs travel to Glasgow on a three-match losing run. Conny Karlsson led them to the Allsvenskan title last term but then resigned, and they haven't looked the same under the guidance of Age Hareide.

Two away wins in eight suggests that they may struggle in this encounter, and they have won just one Champions League game in six on the road.

Bet 1: Celtic (HOME) to win @ 1.564/7

Over to Belgium now for our second pick. In-form Sint Truiden travel to KSV Oudenaarde looking to secure their third 90-minute win in four games this season.

The visitors have burst out of the traps and go into this game having scored eight and conceded just two in their last three encounters.

It is an encouraging start for a side that finished bottom of the Jupiler League in 2011/12, with confidence restored and an immediate return to the top division a realistic target.

Hosts KSV Oudenaarde secured a 0-0 draw in the first league game since promotion from the third tier and will want to go one better in their first home match this evening.

A disastrous pre season campaign in which they lost and conceded plenty indicates that there are defensive weaknesses though which could see them struggle against better opposition and a 2-1 weekend cup loss to White Star Woluwe did little to alter that perception.

It's always hard to predict results this early on in the season, but momentum counts for a lot, and that's why I'm backing the visitors to continue their lively start here.

Bet 2: Sint Truiden (AWAY) to win @ 2.0811/10