Team-mates praise Lacina Traore after he rescues Europa League draw for Monaco

Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and defender Andrea Raggi hailed the impact of Lacina Traore after he came off the bench to rescue a 1-1 Europa League draw against Anderlecht on Thursday.

Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic and defender Andrea Raggi hailed the impact of Lacina Traore after he came off the bench to rescue a 1-1 Europa League draw against Anderlecht on Thursday.

Anderlecht took an 11th-minute lead through Guillaume Gillet and looked set to make a winning start to their Group J campaign before Traore silenced the majority assembled at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium with an 85th-minute equaliser.

Monaco manager Leonardo Jardim reacted to being 1-0 down at half-time by introducing the 6ft 8in Traore at the start of the second half and the Ivorian's impact drew praise from his team-mates.

"It was a difficult game because we conceded a goal quickly. On an error like in Valencia (when they lost their Champions League qualifier)," Subasic told his club's website.

"The entries of Lacina and (Stephan) El Shaarawy made ​​us good. It led to us creating more opportunities."

Right-back Raggi joined Subasic in praising Traore and insisted the point earned in Belgium is something to be pleased about.

"This is a good point for us tonight against this very strong team of Anderlecht," the Italian said.

"We must have more and more aggression and fight for every ball.

"If he is 100 per cent physically and mentally, Lacina is a very good player. This year I think he can help us a lot."

Tough draw for Tottenham against Monaco, Anderlecht and Qarabag in Europa League

Tottenham have been handed a daunting group in the Europa League including a long haul trip to Azerbaijan.

Tottenham have been handed a daunting group in the Europa League including a long haul trip to Azerbaijan.

Spurs were drawn in Group J with Monaco, Anderlecht and FK Qarabag, who play matches in Azerbaijan's capital Baku.

Liverpool's task is also not straightforward with games against Russian side Rubin Kazan, Bordeaux and Swiss club Sion in Group B.

Celtic have the prospect of facing Robin van Persie and Nani's new side Fenerbahce plus Ajax and Molde from Norway in Group A.

The financial rewards of the Europa League have been increased by UEFA this season - and there is the carrot of the winners qualifying automatically for next season's Champions League.

Celtic's head of operations Ronnie Hawthorn said: "I think the stature of the Europa League is growing and the competition is getting more and more difficult. It's good for fans who wants to watch European competition but it is a tough competition these days.

"There is an increase in Europa funding - something like a 63 per cent increase which is quite significant - and that is an important step forward for the competition, and there are lots of good groups here including our own.

"To see players like Van Persie will be so attractive for the fans and how they are coped with in terms of our own team. That can make the match all the more interesting.

"It is also an important step for the competition that the Europa winners now access the Champions League - as Sevilla have shown last season."

Tottenham's group includes meetings with Anderlecht, the Belgian side they beat on penalties in the 1984 UEFA Cup final, the last time Spurs triumphed in a European competition. Some 13 years after the final, UEFA banned Anderlecht from Europe for a year after it emerged they had bribed the referee in the semi-final against Nottingham Forest.