KETTLEWELL EXPECTS CHAMPIONS TO BE FLUENT WITH ZERO FATIGUE

STUART KETTLEWELL suspects his Ross County players will be disappointed if they expect their Celtic counterparts to be hampered by tired legs and weary minds in the wake of their latest European success.

Those responsible for compiling the fixture list have sent Neil Lennon’s side on their longest domestic away trip to Dingwall less than 72 hours after facing Rennes.

But County co-manager Kettlewell does not believe his team will derive any benefit after Celtic qualified for the last 32 of the Europa League with a game to spare.

‘Irrespective of the time between games, one of their strengths is their ability to just continually knock out performances,’ he said.

‘Whether or not there’s just a 72-hour rest period between games, they have such fluency.

‘I’d rather play a SaturdayTuesday or a Thursday-Sunday every week because you start to find consistency.

‘It’s clear from Celtic’s result and performance on Thursday night it’s something these guys are more than capable of doing.

‘Their players were away the previous week on international duty with their respective countries and still turned in the same level of performance.

‘That’s why they are the top team in the country and why everybody finds it so difficult against them.

‘They have top quality players and that level of consistency.’