Joe Cole sees Celtic as Champions League 'non entity' no more as he spots clue they're set to THRIVE under new format

Joe Cole insists that Celtic have shaken off their tags as a Champions League "non entity" after thumping Slovan Bratislava in their league phase.

It was the perfect start to the revamped format of Europe's elite competition as Brendan Rodgers' five-star Hoops' battered the Slovakian champions at Celtic Park to move into the second spot in the table after the opening round of the competition. And Cole has detected that their story in the Champions League won't end at the first hurdle this term after their scintillating opener.

The former Chelsea and England star insisted on TNT Sports that the Hoops have got things right in the transfer market with the perfect blend of youth and experience in a glowing report card - and added he is now 'rooting" for them in the league phase. He said: "They've clearly identified the Japanese market. Those three lads have been fantastic.

"With a little bit of clever business behind the scenes, you can attract some fantastic young players. Look at Erling Haaland, where he started, coming through at Molde then going to Dortmund and Manchester United.

"If you're Celtic, you can identify four or five of - not quite the best young players in the world, because they're still going to get taken by your Real Madrids. But go and pay good money for them, tell them they're going to get European football and play in front of this great crowd, we're going to develop you and make you a top player. After two or three years with us, we'll sell you, happily, then we'll get the next one.

"If you couple that with your Callum McGregors and Kasper Schmeichels, good professionals, Celtic can really capitalise on this new format if they use it that way. For so many years, they were in the doldrums, just a