Kris Commons sought assurances that Celtic are not going backwards as he began contract talks that could keep him at Parkhead for the rest of his career.

Commons was surprisingly dropped for both legs of Celtic's Champions League play-off against Maribor, which saw them cast into the Europa League amid a difficult start to Ronny Deila's reign.

Commons scored 32 goals from an advanced midfield role last season, winning both Scottish player of the year awards, and wants to make sure Celtic match his own ambitions.

But he has had positive initial talks and the fact he remained at the club at the end of the transfer window suggests he will extend his deal beyond the end of the season.

The former Derby player told Peter and Roughie's Football Show on plzsoccer.com: "My agent has been in this week, obviously just for brief discussions, not just about the length of the contract I'm going to sign but what's going to be happening in the future for Celtic and where the board sees us in two or three years.

"Because, when you have had such a successful time at Celtic, you want to keep doing that. You don't want to take backward steps.

"I'm 31 at the weekend so I want to be playing the best years of my career at the top level.

"I'm hoping with the new manager and new faces coming in that we can achieve the same things that we did in the first few years.

"There were things said in the meeting that were positive."

Commons added: "I've got a great relationship with the players, staff and fans and I just want to keep performing for Celtic as long as possible.

"I have played my best football for Celtic and I love playing for them."

Talking about his position in the team, Commons said: "When you get new management and coaching staff, then obviously they have different ideas and different mentality going into different games.

"The new manager is obviously on a bit of a learning curve about what his best team is and the best formation is. It's just one of those things that has changed at the minute."