JASON DENAYER has been handed a timely reminder why Celtic can't be tripped up by complacency against Astra Giurgiu tonight.

Watching his parent club, Manchester City, go 2-0 up in their Champions League clash with CSKA Moscow on Tuesday, the young defender thought they were coasting to a vital three points.

But the Russian club hit back after the break to gain a draw and leave City in serious danger of failing to qualify for the knock-out rounds.

The atmosphere in Celtic Park will be very different to Moscow, where the tie was played behind closed doors as part of a Uefa punishment for CSKA fans breaching racism rules.

The Belgian said: "I watched City's game and it was not great. It was difficult because there were not any supporters in the stadium."

But for Denayer, even with a big Hoops following, the need to remain vigilant is clear if Ronny Deila's men are to move on to seven points in Group D.

He said: "Astra will do what a lot of teams do when they come to Celtic Park. They will stay behind the ball and play on the counter attack.

"We have to be patient and play as we can play, then it is going to come."

There was no need to wait at Dingwall on Saturday as Celtic romped to a 4-0 half-time lead, with Denayer grabbing one of the goals as Ross County were swept aside.

It was the perfect prep game for tonight's tie, and the centre-back said: "We have confidence going into this game. In the Europa League we've been strong mentally. But we need to play better than in the two games we have already played."

Ironically, Celtic were better in Austria when drawing with Salzburg than when they defeated Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 at Parkhead.

Astra are considered the weakest of the sides in Group D and back-to-back victories against the Romanians would push Celtic on to 10 points.

But Denayer would not consider that job done, in terms of qualification.

He said: "We want to win all of the games."

Denayer has an extra incentive to help Celtic go as far as they can in this competition.

Having broken into the Belgian squad, and with a return to Manchester City scheduled for the end of the season, he is aware it is in games on the European stage that his progress will be assessed by those he is desperate to impress.

He is in regular touch with coaches at the Etihad and said: "People watch these games and, if we play well, they can judge us."

He is confident the move north, and the first team football he is now getting, has already helped him get better.

"It has improved me in every way," he said.

"Before I played for the under-21s, and that is not the same because you are against young players.

"Here, I play against men and that makes a lot of difference when you want to improve."