RONNY DEILA today told Celtic hitman Leigh Griffiths: Start next season the way you finished this one and you'll break the 30-goal barrier.

 

Deila celebrated his first title win when closest challengers Aberdeen were beaten by Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday, but he won't be resting on his laurels - and nor does he want his players to.

Griffiths netted his 19th goal of the campaign during Friday night's impressive 5-0 rout of Dundee.

But 11 of those goals have come since March - the month when he finally convinced Deila he was worth a regular start in the Hoops first-team.

And the Celtic boss has told the striker that if he maintains the attitude he has shown in the latter part of this season that he will be impossible to stop next year.

"He has to continue working hard and he will keep on improving," said Deila. "I know what he is capable of doing and Leigh knows himself what he can achieve - if he wants to.

"If he continues to do what he has been doing over the last few seasons, then he can score 30 goals next season.

"I really believe that, and he knows it, too. But it is important he keeps working hard and keeps trying to give 100 per cent in training. You have to think the right way and live the right way and train the right way, and that is what he has been doing. He can see that he has had all the rewards, but he can do even better next season."

Meanwhile, the Celtic boss was reluctant to comment on reports linking the club with a move for Willem II defender Mitchell Dijks.

The 22-year-old has claimed the Hoops have made an approach to his agent, but Deila was coy on the link.

"It is going to get a little bit boring, but I won't comment now on anyone until I know for sure that we have signed them. I will say that we are looking to add to the squad this summer and we want to do try and be ready for the Champions League qualifying games, but there are lots of things to consider. You can be sure that we are busy, put it that way."

And the Hoops boss is determined this title win will be the first of many.

"We have achieved a big thing - winning the league for the fourth time in a row - and hopefully there will be more and more.

"Defensively, we have been unbelievable the whole season and we have hardly conceded a goal. Offensively, we have been getting better and we scored five beautiful goals against Dundee.

"We have worked so hard for this and finally we are there and can start thinking of next season. There is always high pressure here and I put high demands on myself as well. We just have to enjoy it and be happy we are champions."