Celtic can compete in Europe - Sutton

Celtic striker Chris Sutton claims the step up in class from the Bank of Scotland Premier League to the Champions League is not a major problem.

The champions strolled to another domestic win – this time at Livingston – on Sunday which illustrated the quality gap they have to bridge for big European nights.

Celtic are rock-bottom of Champions League Group F after defeats to Barcelona, AC Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk but they are seven points clear of Rangers at the top of the SPL.

They do not have the spending power of their Champions League opponents and their injury problems have left manager Martin O’Neill desperately short of numbers.

But Sutton has vowed to keep battling away at home and abroad in search of success and ignore all the talk about the board’s lack of backing for the Parkhead boss.

“I don’t think it’s difficult to step up in Europe,” said Sutton.

“We have to keep our eye on the ball. We have the same attitude and work as hard as we can.

“Sometimes things go for you and sometimes they don’t but we just have to get on with it. The game against Shakhtar could have gone either way.

“It’s not my business who the manager signs or whether they spend any money. All I know is we have to go out in every game and work hard as possible.

“I don’t think you can say that our performances in the Champions League have been disastrous.

“We cannot compete with the sides we play in the Champions League in terms of finance but we want to do as well as we can.

“Getting no points isn’t good but we can’t spend money which AC Milan, Barcelona and even Shakhtar have to spend.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t cause them problems, which we have done to clubs over the years. Maybe we have not had the rub of the green.

“It’s nothing to do with me. I’m here to play for Celtic and it’s nothing to do with me who the board buy or don’t buy. The players have to just get on with it.”

The only consolation for Livingston head coach Allan Preston was the two-goal show of Burton O’Brien and he admitted that he is a big loss for Scotland.

The midfielder has decided to play for South Africa, much to the frustration of the country where he plays his football.

Preston said: “He’s been far away our best player all season.

“He would have solved Scotland’s left-sided problem but he has decided to choose South Africa. He is in great form and I hope he scores even more goals for us.”