“They’re a good team and they proved they’re a good team because they’ve beaten some very good teams, so we knew that we had to be on it today, and that’s the one area I was really pleased about.

We’re a good football team but we’re a hell of a pressing team as well.”

The match had barely started when Kyogo was forced off after picking what appeared to be a shoulder injury, with Giorgos Giakoumakis replacing him.

But the early change did not upset the rhythm of Celtic’s play, and in a dominant first-half, Liel Abada scored twice and Jota also netted to put the Hoops almost out of sight.

David Turnbull, who came on in the second-half, put the icing on the cake when he capitalised on a goalkeeping error to score his first derby goal.

And the Celtic manager knows that every member of his squad will be called upon in the coming months, with so many games on the horizon, both domestically and in Europe.

I don’t like seeing players get injured, and Kyogo’s been outstanding this year, and it was disappointing to lose him so early in the game,” he said, “but that’s the reason we’ve done the business we have.

“We didn’t have to change the team much in the first four or five games, but I know, with games coming thick and fast, that we’re going to need people.

And that’s why I was pleased with Wednesday night’s performance – everyone who played stood up and played well, so if we have to make a change, and I knew, in putting Giako on, that it would still cause them problems.”

Next up for Celtic is matchday one of their UEFA Champions League group-stage campaign, with Paradise set to welcome the reigning European champions, Real Madrid on Tuesday night. It’s a match the manager and his players are looking forward to.

“They’re a good team – that’s a bit of an understatement!” the Hoops boss said. “It’s why you want to be at this football club.

“You want to be part of these big occasions and big nights, and it’s another great challenge for us.

“You want to measure and test yourself against the best and that’s what we’re going to do. They’re the best and we’ll test ourselves.”

Manager delighted as Celtic players press to impress