WITH 12 goals in their opening two league games, Celtic have started their quest for nine-in-a-row in emphatic fashion, and Neil Lennon attributed the strong start to his side’s desire to challenge themselves at every turn.

It’s been a busy start to the season for the Treble Treble winners, who have also successfully navigated two rounds of Champions League qualifying while taking six points in their opening two Scottish Premiership fixtures. Now they face the second leg of their third qualifying round tie against CFR Cluj tomorrow night (Tuesday), with the game in Romania last week finishing 1-1.

On the domestic front, after impressing with a 7-0 win over St Johnstone in the season opener Neil Lennon’s side travelled to Fir Park on Saturday where they fought back from a goal down to blitz the home side with a 5-2 victory.

“I’m delighted with the start and can’t ask for any more,” said Neil Lennon at Lennoxtown today (Monday). “Seven goals at home and then five away - it’s a remarkable standard that they’re setting already. I’m very, very pleased and we’ve negotiated a couple of European rounds quite well as well, so we’re in a good place at the minute.

“It’s all down to the players and the way they’re contributing, training and bringing it into the games. We’re in good condition. The players have worked very hard in pre-season and we’re seeing the benefit of that now. The mentality is good and the quality of our play is excellent.

“Every team wants to be challenged, and these boys enjoy the challenge. The mentality is good and it’s going to be very difficult to replicate what they’ve done domestically over the last few seasons, but you never say never with these boys.”

Another talking point from the win against Motherwell was the performance from Olivier Ntcham. The Frenchman made his first start of the season, and Neil Lennon had plenty of praise for the Hoops midfielder.

“I thought he got better as the game went on," the manager said. "He seems in a good place and seems happy and he’s a real asset for us when he’s on top form. The key for Olivier now is maintaining that consistency.

“He lost a little bit with injury last year. It’s important that he reinvents himself and finds those levels of performance which he’s shown so far and we know that he’s capable of. He’s very talented and has so much to his game.

"He has a bit of the maverick in him at times, he has great talent and vision and, as the game wore on against Motherwell, he was exceptionally good. More of the same, that’s what we want. He’s the type of player we want at Celtic - he has a bit of flare to him.”

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Manager: Relentless hunger to win behind Celtic's impressive start