After enjoying the Europa League win over Jablonec Joe Hart is desperate to sample the real thing of the group stage.
Celtic are guaranteed a place in one UEFA competition through until Christmas but the Europa League is far more prestigious than the new arrival of the Conference.
Hart has been at Celtic for less than a fortnight but the early signs are that the move is mutually beneficial.
Celtic’s 3-0 win over Jablonec reinforced the view that the club is moving in the right direction but two saves from the former England keeper were welcomed by the fans every bit as much as the goals.
Hart picked up on the atmosphere, speaking to the Sunday Post he said:
Playing in the Europa League group stages is an awesome prospect. I have always loved playing in Europe with some huge teams in it.
Nights like Thursday are amazing. We were playing in a qualifier – yet it was absolutely going off. God knows what will happen if we make it to the group stages, and beyond.
Group-stage football is what this club wants, and what this club needs. It is up to us to get us in it.
Alkmaar appear to be coming to Celtic on Wednesday as a club in crisis but the same could be said for Celtic a fortnight ago- following defeat at Tynecastle.
Hart gets his chance to avenge that today in the Premier Sports Cup with the hoops looking for the momentum of four wins on the bounce with two more home matches in the coming week.