HE MADE an immediate impact by scoring within 38 seconds of his Celtic debut.

But Gary Mackay-Steven believes it won't be until next season that Hoops fans - and everyone else - get to see the best of what he has to offer.

The 24 year-old's assimilation into Ronny Deila's team has been handicapped by the fact he is ineligible for Scottish Cup and League Cup ties, having turned out for Dundee United in both competitions before his move to Paradise at the end of the January transfer window.

The break for internationals put football on hold again for him after just one game back in action, the league win over his former club in which he opened the scoring.

That was Mackay-Steven's third goal in seven appearances for his new club.

But, even though Deila has been delighted by the start he has made to his Celtic career, the winger from Thurso is confident that, with a regular run of games and pre-season with his new team-mates, he can do even better.

"I'm trying to get settled as quickly as I can, and the lads and staff here have helped in that massively," he said.

"There are not too many games left this season, and I am looking to do as well as I can in them.

"But, it might be next season before I really go and get a long spell with the boys, and that is sure to help me."

Not that Mackay-Steven considers himself an automatic pick for the side chasing a fourth consecutive championship.

He has seen enough since signing to know he has to bring his A-game to every training session, let alone matches, even to be considered for selection.

"You can't be complacent because you have started well," he admitted.

"The past, what I may have done, or what has happened so far, has gone.

"All I am doing is looking ahead to our next fixture, which is against St Mirren on Friday.

"The manager has a great pool of players to pick from.

"He has an abundance of options, especially in attacking positions.

"So you really need to keep your standards up.

"This keeps everyone on their toes at all times, which is a great thing for the club."

Deila will not know exactly what his options are for Friday's trip to Paisley until all of those who have been international duty report back to Lennoxtown.

Already he knows that Nir Bitton has suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury while playing for Israel against Wales on Saturday night.

But X-rays brought some good news as they showed no broken bones.

The midfielder is not expected to play any part in tonight's Euro 2016 qualifier against Belgium, a match which could involve another important Celtic player, Jason Denayer.

Nearer home, Tom Rogic is well on the road to recovery after almost a year out with a long-standing groin problem.

The 22 year-old Aussie midfielder last night played for the Development Squad against Motherwell at Cappielow in a match which also saw Derk Boerrigter take another step towards full fitness.