FORMER Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas DOESN'T expect his old club to mount a serious title bid this season - and warned that progressing to the next round of qualifying in the Champions League by defeating Midtjylland would only "paper over the cracks" at Parkhead.

New manager Ange Postecoglou has been busy in the transfer market so far, recruiting Kyogo Furuhashi, Carl Starfelt, Liel Abada, Liam Shaw and Osaze Urhoghide while defender Kristoffer Ajer was sold to Brentford earlier this month.

Rangers won the Premiership title at a canter last season, finishing 25 points clear of the Hoops, and Nicholas believes that the gap between the two rivals is too big for Postecolgou to bridge in his first season at Parkhead - because of the significant turnover in the playing squad.

Writing in his column for the Daily Express, Nicholas explained: "The gap is so big that I don't see how Celtic could close it to mount a genuine title challenge to Rangers this season.

"Ange Postecoglou's squad needs substantially strengthened and any players who do come in will need time to settle and adjust to the demands of the club.

"People will argue that Postecoglou is signing these guys and they will fit into the type of football he wants to play, but it can't be assumed they will hit the ground running.

"It will probably be September or October before we see what type of Celtic side this is going to be. It is only once we have had a good look at his recruitment and his team's style of play that we can judge the manager.

"If Celtic crash out of the Champions League to Midtjylland tomorrow night it won't be Postecoglou's fault.

"It is probably 60-40 in favour of their opponents going through. Midtjylland won in the Danish Superliga at the weekend and a couple of their new signings will be bedded in by now.

"Postecoglou, by contrast, watched his side get hammered 6-2 by West Ham and has been left with no choice but to field kids and a suspect goalkeeper.

"I can't see Celtic keeping a clean sheet in Denmark.

"I take no pleasure in saying this, but if Celtic manage to go through to the next qualifying round then it would just be papering over the cracks.

Glasgow Times:

"At the moment Postecoglou has the fans on his side, but if the Hoops are still struggling a month or two into the Premiership season then it's inevitable the blame will turn to him.

"The outcome of the Old Firm derby at Ibrox on August 29 could either determine the scale of the problem at Parkhead, or how much improvement Postecoglou has been able to make."