Mjallby claims full focus is on title push and a tilt at Champions League

make sure the new guys understand how important it is to continue this run. I’m talking about guys like

Scott Brown, Callum McGregor and the guys who have been there for a number of seasons.”

Having witnessed the calamity against Cluj earlier in the season, Mjallby was pleasantly surprised to see how comfortable Celtic were at Ibrox. With the likes of Christopher Jullien, Boli Bolingoli, Fraser

Forster, Mohamed Elyounoussi and Moritz Bauer now proving their worth, he feels the club’s work during the transfer window will go down as an important period.

“Neil isn’t daft, so he knows if you don’t qualify for the Champions League and lost to Cluj in the manner they did then you expect criticism,” said Mjallby.

“But when we look back at the transfer window it was successful and they were clever and shrewd so the squad is strong with ones for the future.

“I was surprised in a way at how comfortable Celtic won the Old

Firm game,” he added.

“It was great following the build-up and watch Celtic live in a couple of games before that as I was in Scotland.

“A lot of people think Rangers will go all the way this time and for me it’s the first time in years they are a proper challenger to Celtic.

“There were a question marks before the game over Christopher Jullien and Boli Bolingoli but that game did them the world of good because they were allowed to sit in and defend and they did it comfortably,” he added. “But it’s far too early to talk about who is going to win the league. Celtic are in the driving seat but we’re only six games in.”

Another centre-half now benefiting from games who Mjallby knows well is £3.5m Rangers new boy Filip Helander. “Filip is a steady centre-half who reads the game well,” said Mjallby.

“He’s done well for Sweden when he’s played and he’s been in Italy for a number of years. He’s probably not the quickest but he’s steady, good in the air and decent on the ball without being really pacy. He’s quite aggressive and he’ll definitely be suited to Scottish football.”

Like Lennon and Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell, Mjallby passed on his respects to his former rival Fernando Ricksen, who passed away last week aged 43. The pair got sent off for a bust-up in the back of a net during the Old Firm game at Celtic Park.

“We had a wee bit of a bust-up,” recalled Mjallby. “I was going for a 50-50 with Stefan Klos who probably had the ball when I got to him. Fernando gave me one when I was lying down so I tried to chase him and find him in the crowd of players. Seriously, though, he was a great player – and what happened is just so sad.

“When you’ve played against each other in these games, you have real respect for each other.”