Celtic began the defence of their Scottish Premiership title with a 3-0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park but not without some help and some controversy.

Neil Lennon believes the latest off-field controversy to surround Celtic striker Anthony Stokes is "not a major deal".

Republic of Ireland striker Anthony Stokes has described the importance of Celtic’s 17-game unbeaten run in the Scottish Premiership as “massive” as the champions prepare for the trip to Inverness tomorrow.

St Johnstone 0 Celtic 1

Celtic’s new signing Teemu Pukki grabbed a debut goal as the Hoops overcame Hearts 3-1 in their Scottish Premiership clash at Tynecastle on Saturday.

Celtic 4 St Johnstone 0

St Johnstone 1 Celtic 1

Neil Lennon revealed skipper Scott Brown will see a specialist to ascertain whether or not he is to go under the knife.

Neil Lennon is disregarding Celtic’s recent home drubbing of St Johnstone in the Scottish Communities League Cup ahead of tomorrow’s meeting in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

Neil Lennon is hoping his Celtic side have shrugged off the effects of their shock weekend loss to St Johnstone for tonight’s Champions League Group G opener against Benfica at Parkhead.

St Johnstone 2 Celtic 1

Celtic’s new Venezuelan signing Miku was handed his debut in the Hoops’ Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Scott Brown has rubbished calls for Craig Levein to step down or be sacked in the wake of Scotland’s dismal start to their 2014 World Cup qualifiers, which saw them drop four points in their opening two home games.

NEIL LENNON admits his Celtic side missed the sparkle of James Forrest against Dundee United at Parkhead on Saturday despite returning to the top of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League with a 2-1 win.

Celtic 2 Dundee United 1

St Johnstone 1 Rangers 2

Manager Neil Lennon got fans of both Old Firm clubs talking today when he refused to rule out a bid for former Rangers striker Kris Boyd.

Celtic defender Daniel Majstorovic yesterday underwent surgery on the fractured cheekbone he sustained in the 2-0 win against St Johnstone on Sunday and will be out for six weeks, the Glasgow club confirmed on their official website.

NEIL LENNON and Steve Lomas found themselves clashing over two major incidents during Celtic’s 2-0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park yesterday, which took them to within four points of SPL leaders Rangers.

St Johnstone 0 Celtic 2

Defenders Thomas Rogne and Badr El-Kaddouri are back in the Celtic squad for Sunday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Celtic officials will wake this morning wondering if the Parkhead club will be brought to book by UEFA again after incidents involving Hoops fans before last night’s 1-1 Europa League draw with Udinese at the Stadio Friuli.

PAT FENLON’S immediate aim after being named Hibernian manager is to transform results and unify the club.

Pat Fenlon’s immediate aim after being named Hibernian manager is to transform results and unify the club.

Hibernian are expected to unveil Pat Fenlon as their new manager tomorrow.

Hibernian appear set to appoint Pat Fenlon as manager after the Bohemians boss was given permission to speak to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League club.

St Johnstone have beaten Hibernian to the loan signing of Cillian Sheridan.

BERAM KAYAL grabbed his first goal for Celtic to give the Bhoys a narrow 1-0 win over St Johnston and extend their Clydesdale Bank Premier League over bitter rivals Rangers.

St Johnstone 0 Celtic 1

Gary Hooper and Charlie Mulgrew are expected to be fit for Celtic’s Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Tuesday.

Rangers’ Clydesdale Bank Premier League game against St Johnstone has fallen victim to the weather, the Ibrox club have confirmed.

FT: St Johnstone 0 Celtic 3

St Johnstone 2 Celtic 3

Shaun Maloney is a doubt for Celtic’s Co-operative Insurance Cup quarter-final with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park tomorrow night.

John Hughes will serve a six-match touchline ban after being sent to the stands during Hibernian’s 5-1 thrashing at St Johnstone, the Scottish Football Association confirmed today.

St Johnstone 5 Hibernian 1

St Johnstone 1 Celtic 4

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray was forced through injury to change his side again for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray has a clutch of players unavailable for the Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Sunday.

St Johnstone today signed Celtic striker Cillian Sheridan on loan until the end of the season.

Aston Villa’s pre-season preparations concluded on a high note this afternoon with a 1-0 victory over Serie A side Fiorentina at Villa Park.

JUST like their senior counterparts, ‘Grand Slam’ is not a term being used loosely around Allen Clarke’s Ireland U-20 camp.

Scotland Under-20s have brought in full-back Robbie McGowan and first choice centre Robbie Johnston as their two changes to start against Ireland at McDiarmid Park, Perth tomorrow (kick-off 7.30pm).

IRELAND U20 coach Allen Clarke has given a vote of confidence to the team which started in the victory over England for tomorrow night’s Six Nations clash with Scotland (McDiarmid Park, Perth, 7.30pm).