Chris Sutton believes that Celtic have two key positions to improve on- goalkeeper and central defence.
On Monday the hoops head to Austria to step up their pre-season training with Jonny Hayes the only new face on board.
In terms of numbers the former Aberdeen man is a replacement for Patrick Roberts with no major overhaul needed.
The current squad is good enough to dominate again in Scotland but it’s in Europe that Brendan Rodgers will judge his squad with qualification for the Champions League essential.
Last season’s qualification had it’s scary moments with Sutton believing that two key areas need strengthened to ensure qualification to the group stage and then make a decent fight of progressing.
“The squad leave on Monday for Austria and the Champions League qualifiers are only a couple of weeks away,” he explained in the Daily Record.
“It makes sense for Celtic to bring in players now so they are settled and assimilated into the squad before these vital qualifying ties where a poor 20-minute spell can make or break a campaign.
“Celtic definitely need strengthened in the centre of defence, while my views on the goalkeeping position are well established.
“Brendan must strengthen from a position of authority because the qualifiers are not a breeze and if they lose over two legs to a side such as Linfield it would be the biggest shock of all time.
“Celtic have achieved so much but they cannot rest on their laurels and supporters would like to see them move to another level.
“That will be difficult in the domestic game after last season, admittedly but there is scope for improvement in the Champions League.
“My former Blackburn gaffer Ray Harford infamously declared, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” when he took over from Kenny Dalglish in the summer after we’d won the title. It was a huge mistake and we didn’t kick on.
“By not strengthening Celtic risk standing still, rather than keeping the huge momentum going that they built superbly last season.
“After signing that new deal at the end of the season Brendan holds all the cards. It may prove costly not to use them when his hand is so strong.”
Celtic have got three matches lined up while in Austria before returning to Glasgow and a trip to Dublin to play Shamrock Rovers on July 8.
After that the serious stuff begins with the first competitive match of the season away to Linfield on July 14.
