RONNY Deila last night predicted his weary Celtic players would benefit from getting time off during the international break after watching them move six points clear of Hearts in the Ladbrokes Premiership table.

Deila’s side responded well to their disappointing Europa League defeat to Molde on Thursday evening with a comfortable 4—1 triumph over Ross County away in Dingwall yesterday.

A Tom Rogic strike, a Leigh Griffiths double and a Nir Bitton header ensured the Scottish champions prevailed at the Global Energy Stadium and restored their advantage over their nearest challengers.

However, Deila, who had been heavily criticised following the 2-1 loss to the Norwegian champions and had even faced calls for his removal, feels his players look jaded after a punishing run of games both domestically and in Europe.

His Scotland contingent – Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest, Craig Gordon and Leigh Griffiths all played up in the Highlands - are not involved in the Euro 2016 play-offs in the coming days and will be able to get a complete break.

Their manager believes having a fortnight without a game will increase their chances of challenging for the League Cup, Premiership and Scottish Cup and reaching the Europa League knockout rounds.

“It’s going to be very, very positive to have a break now,” said Deila. “The real positive is having maybe only three or four players actually playing on international duty.

“So a lot of players will have a possibility to actually get a break. Because you can see we’re not as sharp as we usually are. That’s because of the unbelievable load, physically and mentally, they’ve had to carry.

“They will get some time off, definitely, that’s important. They will get some days off. We have a lot of tied bodies in our dressing room. It’s good that we have some days now to give boys a rest. That will help us get ready for the next stage of every competition.”

Deila singled out Griffiths – the Celtic striker whose second half double increased his personal tally for the season to 18 in all competitions - for special praise for his contribution to the win over Ross County.

“Leigh was very sharp and he keeps on scoring goals,” he said. “He is very consistent. He waits for his chance, works hard for the team and is prepared when it comes. I am very happy with that.

“I don’t think so much about Hearts or Aberdeen, I just think about performing as a team. If I get my team winning games, that’s what I concentrate on. I can’t do anything about Hearts."

Jim McIntyre, the Ross County manager, bemoaned his side’s lack of ruthlessness in the final third against Celtic after seeing his players squander their early goalscoring opportunities.

“Celtic punished us when we made mistakes, but we didn’t take the glaring opportunities we had in the game,” he said.

“We could have been two goals in front, they were big chances. That’s the way it has been falling for us, we are lacking a bit of finesse in front of goal. We have to be better in front of goal and take your chances, especially against the top sides.

“As disappointed as I am with the goals we lost, going forward and in a creating capacity the final thing was missing. I have been saying that for the last four or five weeks. With the amount we create we have got to put away more.”