CELTIC face Cluj of Romania next, and they will be a significant step up, but it must be said that, so far, the Scottish champions are in good nick and look the part.

Lots of goals scored, only one conceded, fringe players playing some good stuff, some old faces now have a smile on them, and new boys hinting that they have something about them.

Celtic are going to win the European Cup!

Okay, arguably not, but the team (squad) are in decent shape and, remember, there is money to spend, plus Tom Rogic and, yes, Kieran Tierney have still to be seen.

LET’S START WITH OLIVIER NTCHAM

He is petulant, can be lazy and look disinterested, his behaviour has not been Willey Maley-like of late and, of course, is one hell of a frustrating footballer.

As they say in that French France: “Ee iz a gros wean.” Oh, but when in the mood, this lad is a serious player.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Celtic to face CFR Cluj in Champions League qualifiers

If Neil Lennon can keep Ntcham for one more season and also get the (very) best out of him, then Celtic have a Champions League midfielder in the team.

Or to put it another way, in a way football is these days, the best part of £20million.

In a dead rubber, Ntcham was outstanding. He wanted the ball, his movement when not in possession absolutely outstanding, no marker got close to him and when the camera closed in, there was a big smile on his face.

Ntcham can drive you daft when not at his best, and too often he’s been in a sulk, so if Lennon gets the best from him then Celtic are going to be a far better team.

IF A PLAYER IS A STAR IN UKRAINE THEN SURELY HE CAN DO WELL IN SCOTLAND

This takes us to Marian Shved. He got 20 or so minutes on his debut, made some smart moves, could have scored with his second touch, and then right at the death put the ball in the back of the net with power, precision and from outside the box.

It was a lovely goal.

Shved signed for Celtic in January, for sent back to Ukraine where he was one of the best players in that league. So, the Premiership shouldn’t be an impossible task for the winger.

That’s not science, of course, but common sense suggests that a lad who can do well in the Ukrainian league, and got himself into the national team, there is therefore every chance he can be a success at Celtic.

NIR BITTON IS GOING TO BE HUGE FOR LENNON

The midfielder has been bang on the ball since the first pre-season game, and this is great news for Celtic.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Celtic marks out of ten: Bitton, Morgan and, yes, Ntcham looked good in Estonia

This is what Bitton does. He gets the ball, makes space for himself and his team, passes the ball, and then gets back to step one. This is no bad thing.

Lennon needs a big squad and if Bitton is fit all season, this squad immediately becomes much better, especially when you add in Shved, Lewis Morgan and Ntcham – three players who perhaps many supporters wouldn’t have given much thought to in June.

In Europe in particular, Bitton can be a huge player. He would rather cut off his head than play a risky pass – not always exciting – but valuable when up against it, as will happen against the very best.

Any team that has midfielders who passes the ball to a team-mate, and can do that nine times out of ten, is a decent team.

LEIGH GRIFFITHS GUARANTEES 30 GOALS

Okay, his ‘goal’ was given as an OG, which was right, but Griffiths read what was happening and got himself in there in the danger zone which forced a goal.

And Odssone Edouard doesn’t always do that.

Glasgow Times:

READ MORE: Nomme Kalju 0 Celtic 2 (Agg. 0-7): Another Scottish walkover in Tallinn as Celtic ease through in Champions League qualifying

There was a moment in Estonia when Griffiths ran down the line to help out the back, took the ball, found a team-mate with a really clever pass, and then sprinted upfield.

Celtic supporters will know this is a really, really, really good sign.

CELTIC WILL BEAT CLUJ

The Romanians have had some seriously good results over ten years or so, and good on them, but they are not the team they once were.

Celtic are playing well, the squad has become better and silly off-field problems are, for the moment, non-existent.

This means, sort of, Celtic will beat Cluj and this will guarantees them group stage European football, and the way the draw has opened up, and how the Scotland champions are playing, have every chance of making the Champions League.