Chris Sutton believes his former side have "great concerns" despite a winning start to the Scottish Premiership season. The next four days will tell us whether those worries are justified. Martin O'Neill's team face a rapid rematch against Rangers on Sunday, but a Europa League opener with Ferencvaros comes first.

Celtic fans are tiptoeing with trepidation into their first European action since their Champions League play-off collapse in Linz. A Europa League opener with Ferencvaros comes first. Celtic fans are tiptoeing with trepidation into their first European action since their Champions League play-off collapse in Linz, a capitulation that has the same supporters questioning this team's big-game credentials.

Even captain Callum Mc Gregor lamented Celtic's "team of individuals" after the weekend defeat at Ibrox. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, former striker Sutton also expressed his "great concerns" for O'Neill's men and said they have "big issues" after a "lightweight" midfield was "run all over" by Rangers. Celtic have struggled to build up play against coherent pressing teams, which results in opposition sides being offered too much encouragement when the ball turns over.

They faced a whopping 60 shots across both legs with LASK. Forty of them came in a mess of a second leg. In the Premiership alone this season, they have faced 64 attempts, the same number as Hearts and six more than Rangers.

Over just six games, that tally already makes up almost a quarter of the total they faced in the entirety of the 2024-25 league-winning campaign under Brendan Rodgers. That said, in comparison to last term, which was overseen by Rodgers, Nancy and O'Neill, Celtic's Premiership numbers show they are currently averaging a far better goal concession rate while scoring and shooting more. Come Sunday, though, the most crucial statistic could be in the points column.

With a rapid rematch against Rangers offering the chance to move eight points clear of their city rivals after a test against European-level opposition, the next four days will at least be mood-shifting.