THIS was as easy a victory as Celtic have had in many a year at this stage of Champions League qualifiers.

The new-look system with three at the back and two men up-front, much appreciated by those brought up to believe Celtic should always play with two strikers at home, worked well. At times the football, quick and all one-touch, was lovely to watch.

Kalju, bless them, weren’t great. However, Neil Lennon would have been delighted with how his team is looking.

For me, Celtic are further forward now than they were this time last season, and this is with £7million signing Christopher Jullien still a few weeks off being fit for the first team, although he was on the bench.

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CELTIC SHOULDN’T HAVE TO PLAY THESE QUALIFYING GAMES

Now, not for a moment am I suggesting Celtic ought to be parachuted into the group stage.

And I’m not even suggesting they go straight into the play-off, nice as it would be for the club, because they aren’t at that level but, come one, surely they have done enough in recent and not so recent seasons to be put into the final qualifying round – which they will go into after this win without much trouble.

Kalju are a professional football team, had one or two tidy players, and are champions of their country so this is not meant to be disrespectful to the Estonians.

But Celtic don’t deserve to be in this company. Two Champions League group stages, one third finish, and a second place in last season’s Europa League group stage, won’t make Liverpool quiver; however, that record should mean Celtic not having to play eight games to make the group stage.

TWO STRIKERS MIGHT JUST BE THE WAY FORWARD FOR THIS CELTIC TEAM

Leigh Griffiths and Odsonne Edouard played together for the first time as a front pairing and there was more than enough on show to suggest this can be a permanent arrangement.

Partnerships take more than some training sessions and a game to form, but these two complimented one another, to an extent, and at times were exciting to watch It helped that both played well so any misunderstandings, and there were a few, didn’t matter so much as these two enjoyed themselves.

READ MORE: Leigh Griffiths: I was close to crying when I scored for Celtic against Nomme Kalju

Griffiths was terrific. His goal, which I will expand on further in a minute, a peach and reminder of those two moments of magic against England.

And Edouard is a real talent. The young Frenchman was on it from his first touch and when in this mood, he’s a lovely footballer to watch. He puts a shift in as well.

AND GRIFFITHS IS BACK…

If Lennon gets a full season out of Griffiths and in the goalscoring form he’s shown all summer, then he’s done all of us a favour.

No other Scot currently playing could have scored the free-kick, a thing of beauty and a goal as soon as it left that wand of a left foot.

Griffiths worked hard, linked up well with Edouard, wanted on the ball, got behind his markers, and while there is a yard of pace still to be found, understandable given his long absence, this was close to the Griffiths of old.

With the 28-year-old around, he guarantees assist and goals. He got his 105th for Celtic here.

RYAN CHRISTIE HAS RETURNED FROM HIS BREAK – PUN INTENDED – LOOKING A DIFFERENT PLAYER

This isn’t to say he wasn’t playing brilliantly before his injury, he was, but in pre-season and in all three competitive games, the nicest man in Scottish football had added strength, speed and more adventure to his game.

A shot from 25-yards and a bit, which could only be described as sizzling, after a few minutes hinted at what was to come.

READ MORE: Celtic 5 Nomme Kalju 0: Leigh Griffiths back on target at last with stunning free-kick

Christie was a ball of energy. His touch and passing accurate, coupled with an ability to creep into pockets of space when Kalju got men behind the ball.

His cross for the first goal, excellent from a free-kick in wide position, typified his delivery. And when it came to the penalty, his execution from 12 yards was perfection.

His second goal? It reminded me of Kris Commons and Alan Thompson.

LENNON CAN HE HAPPY WITH HOW THINGS ARE GOING BUT MORE SIGNINGS ARE NEEDED

The Scottish champions are in pretty good shape. They key men have returned in good form – Callum McGregor was superb again – and that’s ten goals from three competitive games.

And as Boli Bolingoli did get to half-time, he was taken off with an injury, the four signings so far haven’t really figured and neither has Tom Rogic among others. Oh, and a certain left-back could well be a Celtic player at least for a few more months.

However, Lennon could do with two more, if nobody leaves, including someone who can deputise for Scott Brown – no easy task.