Ronny Deila insists Celtic are heading in the right direction

Celtic may be trailing Aberdeen in the Premiership, and have missed out on the Champions League group stages, but manager Ronny Deila is convinced his side are in better shape than last season.

Deila is pleased with the way his side has kept clean sheets in their last two games - against Dundee in the league and against Raith Rovers in the League Cup - and he believes it all augurs well for the months ahead.

He said: "If you look at the same time last year, we're in a much better shape. People know what to expect in the different roles, so we are stronger as a squad now.

"A lot of players have developed, so players like Tom Rogic and James Forrest, who didn't play so much last year because of injuries, are now becoming important in the team, so the squad is bigger in terms of players fighting for a place in the starting XI.

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"We have improved - we have more points than we did last year, we've scored 23 goals in eight games, which is double what it was last year, so we're in a better place, we're still in every competition so in terms of results, we're better.

"But I see things beyond that - I see a culture where players are getting better and better, and it's nice to see players like Rogic and Forrest starting to reach their potential - it excites me and gives me energy every time they go on the pitch and I see they're getting better."

Deila was pleased the performance of his teenage left-back, Kieran Tierney, who caught the eye against Raith on Wednesday night.

He said: "There is so much talent in this group. You've got someone like Kieran, who's only 18, but he came in against Raith Rovers and looked like a mature player.

"There are so many positive things here and we're going in the right direction. We're only at the start of a marathon season here and we are starting to build momentum and we want to keep improving."

Meanwhile, Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon has been impressed by what he has seen from Carlton Cole, 31, in training this week; the former West Ham striker is currently being put through his paces with the first-team squad at Lennoxtown. 

"He's stuck a few balls away in training, so the finishing aspect is still there which is good to see," he said. "He should have a few years left in him yet. If it does come about and he does come in, it will give us something a little different as well."