John Kennedy says that Celtic are ready to shut up their doubters, and insists they relish the title challenge laid down by Aberdeen.

The Hoops first-team coach has watched on with amusement at the fuss being made around Derek McInnes’s table-topping side since they beat the champions on Saturday.

He insists though that Celtic are the team who will be on top when the winners’ medals are handed out in May.

He said: “There’s a bit of frenzy around because Aberdeen are top of the table. People are asking ‘are they title contenders? Are they not?’

“It’s something new and everybody loves that, but when Celtic’s on top it’s all very quiet.

“It’s very early in the season, there’s still a long, long way to go, and we’re fully confident that come the last day we’ll be lifting the title.

“It gives us perfect motivation. For us as coaches and obviously for the manager, there’s very little motivation needed.

“We’ll ask the players to use their previous performance, and what’s going on around about them, and say ‘look guys, go and show everybody what it’s all about.’

“We’ve got a group of boys with a good bit of experience in there, and the players that have come in have shown a great attitude.

“When we combine that and everything clicks in we’ll be a very good team.

“Aberdeen have had a great start, they pushed us last season and I think they’ve improved since then, so it’s going to be a challenge.

“It’s something that we’re fully ready for. It was a poor result at the weekend but there are a lot of games to play.

“Come the end of the season, that’s when we’ll see who is where.”

Before getting back to league duty, Celtic have the chance to take their frustration out on Ajax in their opening Europa League group match in Amsterdam on Thursday night.

“I think we have to use that anger as a positive,” he said.

“We use it to motivate ourselves going into Thursday’s game.

“This is a great platform, the kind of game we all want to be involved in and play in. There’s no better game to come around for us than a big European tie against Ajax.

“(The manager) has used it. He’s methodical and he’s calm, but when the time’s right and we haven’t done ourselves justice then he’s angry.

“He’s got a good balance that way but it’s good for the players to see that side of him, it shows passion and it shows he cares.”