FORMER Celtic striker Chris Sutton says the Hoops must accept the nature of their upcoming schedule means they are going to encounter injury problems again.

The Parkhead side was beset by squad depth issues last term, particularly in the opening half of the season.

They are competing on four fronts this campaign and, after a more relaxed opening few weeks, will be back to playing multiple times a week across the league, League Cup and Champions League. The Scottish Cup enters the fray after the World Cup-prompted break.

Sutton reckons the high-intensity approach favoured by Ange Postecoglou will always mean his men are at increased risk of picking up injuries - but that the change in personnel since last season means the Hoops are in a far better place than last year to manage when they do.

"With the greatest of respect to the young lads themselves, Celtic had to call on kids Joey Dawson and Adam Moffat up front to get through games in the festive period last year when both the Japanese and the Greek were stuck on the sidelines," Sutton wrote in the Daily Record.

"It was seat of the pants stuff at times and, although it’s sad to say, there is simply no way Postecoglou is going to get through competing in four competitions, having high-pressure games week on week and with the tempo his team train and play at without some guys picking up strains.

"He admits himself that, last year, he had to push some guys further than he wanted due to lack of numbers and it broke them. David Turnbull was one of those. Now he’s back and refreshed and people were wondering if was going to get games with Reo Hatate, Matt O’Riley and Callum McGregor holding the jerseys for the opening day win over Aberdeen.

"One week in and we have our answer. Postecoglou has said he will switch things around and every single member of that squad will see action, I’m convinced of it. Of course, at this precise point in time, when basically everyone is fit and there aren’t many games, there also aren’t enough starting places to go around."