Alistair Johnston reckons Celtic will be a "really difficult opposition" for anyone this season.

Celtic have maximum points from their opening two Scottish Premiership matches, and go into Sunday's Premier Sports Cup clash against Hibernian in a confident mood.

Johnston impressed with Canada at Copa America over the summer and has used that experience to kick-on back at club level.

Celtic will compete in the new Champions League league phase, which could see Brendan Rodgers' squad lock horns with some of Europe's elite teams. 

That doesn't scare Johnston though, and the 25-year-old thinks the Celtic side is just going to get better and better as the weeks go on.

Speaking to Celtic TV, the Canadian full-back said: "I think building on what the boys did in pre-season has made a big difference. Again, I think there's a real kind of understanding and cohesion out there.

"You saw it, especially in that Hibs match, right from the get-go. I think we have had a few fast starts and really kind of imposed ourselves in the two matches.

"It's never an easy time when you play the same team back-to-back, but at the same if we continue to play like how we started that match then we know we will be a really difficult team to play against no matter who the opposition is."

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Celtic have brought Adam Idah and Paulo Bernardo to the club on permanent deals after successful spells on loan last season. While goalkeepers Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo have arrived too.

Asked how the team morale has been in the Celtic dressing room, Johnston stated: "The atmosphere has been great. It's a pretty similar group to last year and I think we are just building on what we had and what we created last year. 

"Obviously there was some players who we were trying to get back over the line, obviously Paulo and Adam, getting them back in the group was a major plus to continue on from where we were last year because we felt, especially at the end of last season, that we were in a really good vein of form and that we were really kicking on and understanding what the gaffer wanted.

"I think we are continuing that into this season, and I think you will have seen that with the results over pre-season and now."