Bain saves the strain in pursuit of 10 in a row

Celtic keeper Scott Bain is confident they can handle the pressure as they bid for a 10th straight title.

The Hoops are out to break the record of nine successive titles – a mark they currently share with Rangers, albeit they have done it twice and did it first.

The new Premiership campaign starts on August 1, with Celtic hosting Hamilton the following day.

Bain believes Celtic’s experience of winning will stand them in good stead.

He said: “The players have shown that they’re more than capable of handling any pressure.

“For us as a squad, we don’t read into what’s anyone else is saying. We just know that, if we do the job we set out to do, and do it to our full ability, then we can come away with three points. It might sound like a cliche but it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

“We always focus fully on one game at a time and, if we can play the way we’re capable of, we can ignore the outside noise.”

After working on their fitness at Loughborough University for a week, the Celtic squad will head out to France with three friendly games against Nice, Lyon and Paris St Germain lined up as part of the preparations.

Bain added “The boys are really straining at the leash to get back into it, given the way last season ended.

“Right now we’re all really focused on getting back into it and excited to get on the pitch and start the season off as well as we possibly can.

“We’ve been back for a few weeks now and it already feels back to normal, as if we’ve never been away. Everyone’s been really excited.”

Scott Bain