We've Got A Lot Of Positives To Draw From The Performances

A Word With The Assistant Manager.

- Joe Donnelly

THE international break has scope to derail domestic momentum, but a hard-fought goal-less draw away to Livingston saw Celtic go top of the SPFL table before the players set off to represent their respective countries.

Having scored 25 goals in their last seven matches - averaging over three goals per game in the process - the Hoops will use this brief respite period to regroup and reassess, before seeing out 2018 with 11 games in just five weeks.

The busy spell will see the Scottish champions play both Rosenborg in Norway and FC Salzburg at home in the UEFA Europa League, Aberdeen in the League Cup final at Hampden, and Rangers at Ibrox three days before the New Year, among a handful of other domestic duties.

Celtic entered the last international break following an emphatic 6-0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, and have now leap-frogged Hearts at the summit of the Premiership with a game in hand over the Edinburgh side. For Chris Davies, the team’s impressive run of form speaks for itself and sets them up nicely for the challenges that lie ahead.

“We’ve had a good block of games leading into the international break,” said the assistant manager in an exclusive interview with the Celtic View. “We’ve attacked teams well, we’ve played great football, and we’ve defended well, too. We’ve got a lot of positives to draw from the performances in that time.

“Ryan Christie has been a real highlight during that period as well, and we had a really fantastic European performance and win against Leipzig. We couldn’t quite find that moment of quality we needed against Livingston, but they’re a team who have only conceded seven goals, the second-fewest in the league.