CIFTCI EURO POSER FOR DEILA

RONNY DEILA is looking forward to new Bhoy Nadir Ciftci giving Celtic an attacking presence in the new season.

The 23-year-old Turkish striker, who signed a four-year deal in a £1.3million move from Dundee United on Thursday, made an instant impact when he came off the bench in the 1-0 win over Davie Moyes’ Real Sociedad side at St Mirren Park last night.

In the 69th minute, only a handful of seconds after replacing Griffiths, Ciftci combined with former Tannadice team- mate Gary Mackay-Steven before the Hoops winger swept in the only goal of the game against a talented and tough La Liga outfit.

The Spanish keeper robbed him of his first goal for the club when he blocked a close-range effort after Ciftci had raced onto a superb clipped pass from Stefan Johansen.

Deila’s men begin their attempt to reach the group stages of the Champions League when they take Stjarnan in the first leg of their opening qualifier at Celtic Park on Wednesday.

Ciftci might have played himself into the manager’s plans for the crucial tie against the Icelandic champions. Deila said: “We’ll see. He’s available and we’ll see what we do. He is, of course, an option.

“I’m very happy to get him in. He showed what he can add to the team. He’s a good football player and he’s going to be an important player for us.”

The Hoops gaffer declared himself pleased with the work-out against Moyes’ side. He said: “It’s going to make us even stronger. We have things we can do from the bench and we have a strong squad and everyone is looking forward to the games.

“Offensively, we started without confidence, but we grew throughout the game and in the end we created the chances we needed to win. So, I’m happy with the performance.

“We need more sharpness, but that’ll come on Wednesday.”

Former Manchester United boss Moyes, an ex-Celtic defender, had sympathy for the Hoops’ early European start. He said: “I don’t think it’s a great situation that they are being asked to start so early in the season, but that’s down to where Scotland are in the coefficient.

“The games have to start early and it’s not easy for Celtic, but those are the rules.

“If Scotland can continue to improve, then it may change and the national side is doing the country proud and there are a lot of Celtic players part of that team.

“You want your team to be at their best coming into the last few months of the season when you’re approaching Cup Finals and league title races.

“But Celtic need to be at their best at the start and they better be ready.”