FORMER Celtic attacker Kris Commons has hit out at his former club after they lost further ground in the title race at this early stage of the campaign.

Sunday's 1-1 draw with Dundee United means that new manager Ange Postecoglou has won just three of his opening seven Premiership games - opening up a six-point gap between the Hoops and their rivals Rangers.

Injuries to key players such as Kyogo Furuhashi and Callum McGregor have played their part in Celtic's stuttering start to the season - with Commons insisting that the high heid yins at Parkhead must shoulder the blame for leaving Postecoglou short of options.

"Celtic have made their worst start to a season for over 20 years," Commons wrote in his Daily Mail column.

"For the manager and the players, there's no way you can possibly sugar-coat something like that or put a positive spin on it.

Glasgow Times:

"It's a damning indictment of where the club is at just now and a by-product of the scandalous mismanagement and neglect behind the scenes in recent years.

"With the game locked away at 1-1 yesterday, Ange Postecoglou would obviously have wanted to make a change but he had a glaring lack of options on the bench.

"The only two subs he brought on - Adam Montgomery and Ismaila Soro - are both defensive-minded players and both were enforced by injuries to other players.

"I know there are a few injuries and absentees at the moment, but it shows how bad the recruitment has been in recent years that there can be a complete absence of any attacking players on the bench."

Commons added that Postecoglou's away record is a concern - Celtic have lost all three league fixtures on the road this term - and with trips to Pittodrie, Fir Park and Easter Road on the horizon, the former Scotland internationalist reckons the title race could be over by Hallowe'en if the Hoops don't get their act together quickly.

He continued: "The league table is already making for painful viewing for Celtic supporters.

"The team are languishing in sixth place, already six points behind leaders Rangers.

Glasgow Times:

"Listen, Rangers haven't been particularly great either in recent weeks.

"But, crucially, they are still managing to grind out results more often than not.

"Celtic's fixture list over the next few weeks is a major concern. In the next month, they face tough away trips to Aberdeen, Motherwell and Hibs.

"Given that they haven't won away in the league since February, the likes of Pittodrie, Fir Park and Easter Road aren't venues you'd choose when you're looking for a nice confidence boost.

"Postecoglou's side are spilling points at an alarming rate.

"The way things are going, they could be out of the title race by Halloween at this rate."