New look Celts need to improve quickly, says Hartson

CELTIC striker John Hartson insisted yesterday that his team-mates have to sort themselves out quickly if they are to avoid an embarrassing early Champions League exit.

Despite their 2-2 draw with last season’s beaten UEFA Cup finalists Sporting Lisbon on Thursday night, new manager Gordon Strachan knows major work is still needed to transform his new-look and injury-hit squad into a well-oiled machine.

The Scot has less than a week to prepare before they travel to Slovakia for a tricky second qualifying round game but the Welsh international striker acknowledges that failure to qualify for the money-spinning group stages is unthinkable.