CELTIC got the defence of their Premiership title off to the most emphatic of starts by hitting seven past a woeful St Johnstone outfit.

A Ryan Christie hat-trick and goals from Mikey Johnston, Olivier Ntcham, Odsonne Edouard and Leigh Griffiths put the Saints to the sword, and here are five talking points from an opening day demolition at Celtic Park…

RYAN CHRISTIE LOOKS TO BE IN FORM OF HIS LIFE

After injuries punctuated an otherwise fine campaign from the Scotland attacker last season, the 24-year-old looks to be back to peak condition and ready to stake a claim to become a key player for his club and country.

The hat-trick he hit here obviously caught the eye, with all three goals coming from strikes outside the area, but it was his overall play that was arguably even more impressive.

He has become a pivotal cog in Celtic’s passing progression, and when he and Callum McGregor link up is when Celtic are at their free-flowing best.

There is a touch of devilment in him too, being neither afraid to put the boot in when required or to sacrifice himself for the good of the team, exemplified towards the end of the first half on Saturday when he ran back into his own half to dispossess Matty Kennedy on the Celtic right and kill a rare St Johnstone attack stone-dead.

Christie is flying, and looks primed for a season to remember.

CELTIC HAVE STRENGTH IN DEPTH

One of the notable aspects of Celtic’s victory here was that it was achieved with a host of first-team players sitting in the stands.

Neil Lennon probably won’t want to play Nir Bitton at the centre of defence too often this season, but a partnership between him and Kristoffer Ajer is perfectly serviceable and they came under no pressure at all here. Christopher Jullien and Jozo Simunovic have still to come back in now they have served the suspensions that ruled them out of the St Johnstone game.

Kieran Tierney is still sidelined, and may still leave the club during this transfer window, but Boli Bolingoli seems to be improving at left-back, while the likes of Tom Rogic, Marian Shved and Vakoun Issouf Bayo are also close to full fitness after assorted injuries. It all bodes well for Lennon and his side as they look to cope with a hectic early season schedule at home and abroad.

HATEM ABD ELHAMED COULD BE ANSWER TO RIGHT-BACK WOES

The only sour note from the Israeli’s debut at right-back was that he was forced from the action just after half-time having suffered a dead leg, but there was plenty in his performance to that point that would have been encouraging for Celtic fans and manager Lennon.

He was constantly on the front foot in this game as Celtic dominated, so it was difficult to judge him in a defensive sense, but he certainly looks equipped to support James Forrest on the right going forward.

He has pace, he can go past a player, and he looks to have decent delivery too.

Tougher tests await of course, but Lennon will be quietly encouraged that he many just have found a solution to an area that has given him a headache all summer, with Tony Ralston yet to show he is up to filling the spot on a regular basis.

NEGATIVITY AROUND NEIL LENNON’S STYLE IS UNFOUNDED

The manner of some of Celtic’s victories last season after the arrival of Lennon as interim boss drew criticism, with some of it warranted as the champions scraped past opponents on more than one occasion.

Lennon maintained though that once he had a pre-season to get his ideas across to the player he inherited from Brendan Rodgers and supplemented his squad with his own signings, he would return to the buccaneering style that was a hallmark of his previous spell at the club and his time in charge of Hibernian.

There will be pragmatism of course when the occasion calls for it, but any fears that Lennon’s Celtic wouldn’t be able to blow away domestic opposition and entertain the Celtic Park crowd appear unfounded.

TOMMY WRIGHT NEEDS SOME HELP

St Johnstone, on this evidence, are in for a very long season if Tommy Wright isn’t able to bring in at least three or four new players to strengthen his squad.

The Saints boss quipped after the game that he is still a magician, but unless chairman Geoff Brown produces a few rabbits from his hat then it could be a real struggle for the Perth men this term.

The return of Drey Wright from injury will be a major boost of course, and Wright remains hopeful that a deal for Stevie May can be resurrected, but the whole team looks like it could do with being freshened up.

A game at Celtic Park will not be the defining moment of St Johnstone’s season, but what will worry Wright more than anything is that this simply didn’t look like one of his teams. There was very little fight, some very half-hearted tackles, and a willingness to accept their fate that was hugely concerning.