McGhee and Strachan were both present at the Tommy Burns Tribute

Gordon Strachan has made a surprise return to Celtic Park less than a week after standing down as manager - but only to pay tribute to Tommy Burns.

More than 25,000 fans watched the present Celtic side beat an old-boys select 11-4 in honour of former manager Burns, who died last May aged 51.

Former Celtic midfielder Murdo MacLeod told BBC Scotland: "Everybody is here because of their friendship with Tommy.

"It's been a very emotional day and the fans showed great support for Tommy."

Strachan, who missed out on a fourth straight Scottish title on the final day of the league season last weekend, took a bow and received a warm round of applause from the Celtic fans before the charity match.

Ex-Celtic striker Mark McGhee, the Motherwell manager recommended to the club by Strachan as his successor, was also an emotional presence in the stand along with his former Aberdeen team-mate.

The match had three beneficiaries - Burns' family, the Tommy Burns Skin Cancer Trust and the Celtic Charity Fund.

Paolo Di Canio was one of the stars in Jonathan Burns' select side

But the unveiling of a sculpture in tribute to Burns, which was originally planned to be held before the match, will now take place around the first home league match of next season.

Burns spent most of his career with Celtic as player, manager and youth coach and the high regard in which he was held was exemplified by the star-studded turnout.

In bright sunshine, the present side, managed by Neil Lennon, ran out easy winners with a Lee Naylor hat-trick, doubles from Gary Caldwell and Scott McDonald, and with Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, Aiden McGeady, Massimo Donati and Simon Ferry also on the scoresheet.

The 'three amigos' of Paolo Di Canio, Pierre Van Hooijdonk and Jorge Cadete, who played for the club while Burns was manager, made a nostalgic return to Celtic Park for the select side captained by Burns' son, Jonathan, and managed by Billy McNeill.

And Cadete, Roy Keane, John Hartson and Andy Walker scored for the team of veterans.

Also making an appearance was 14-year-old Islam Feruz, a highly-regarded Somalian from the club's youth academy, and Stephen Melville - a supporter who paid £20,000 in a charity auction for the privilege of playing.

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