ONLY 38 days since they won the Scottish Cup to draw down the curtain on season 2012-13, Celtic were back on display as they lost 1-0 to Sevastopol of Ukraine in the first of four warm-up games in Germany.

Predictably, the line-up and setting were as far removed from the Hampden showpiece as you could get.

The tree-ringed TechnoMarkt Stadion in Furstenfeldbruck outside Munich had the look of a Scottish Third Division ground.

But the Celtic fans – mostly expats and locals – who managed to find the venue deep in the woods, at least got the chance to see Amido Balde and Virgil van Dijk wear the Hoops for the first time in public.

They could also make their own judgement on trialist defender, Steven Mouyokolo, seeking to win a contract after six months as a free agent.

Neil Lennon chose the occasion to give home-grown rising stars, full-back Darnell Fisher and midfielder Liam Henderson, the opportunity to start.

The new kids on the block did not fail the audition, their enthusiasm and energy – particularly in the case of the pacy Fisher – helping to lift some more established names alongside them.

The four matches – the next is against FC Cluj on Saturday – are designed to raise everyone's sharpness and fitness levels.

In this regard, the manager will be satisfied to have this one under their belts before they get back to double training sessions at their base camp in Bad Goegging.

It is already clear much work has been done here, and at Lennoxtown before they flew out to Germany.

One aspect of the play which has been high on the to-do list has been working the ball from the back rather than punting it forward whenever Fraser Forster has it in his hands.

Ironically, with the 6ft 4in target of Balde now available up front, the temptation to launch it from deep must be stronger than ever.

However, with the other new Bhoy, Van Dijk, happy to take the ball to feet deep inside his own half, Lennon's tactics now appear to favour rolling the ball out then advancing it nearer the halfway line before eventually trying to pick out Balde's head.

With Tony Watt trying diligently to hover around the Portuguese striker, looking to latch on to any knock-downs, the Hoops attack should have had aerial power and pace on the deck.

However, it was not a ploy which offered too much against Sevastopol, a side who appeared to be a few weeks ahead of Celtic in terms of match-fitness on a pitch which was heavy after overnight rain.

Indeed, the Ukraine team had the best chances to open the scoring in the first half, finding space between Van Dijk and Mouyokolo and inside the full-backs.

Fortunately for the newly-acquainted defenders, Forster made two very good saves to keep the teams level at the break.

At the other end, Balde could have grabbed his first goal for the club when Sevastopol's defenders got into a fankle, but the striker was hustled as he prepared to shoot and blazed over.

As ever in these games, Lennon elected to begin making changes from the interval to give as many players as possible a run out.

And with Gary Hooper and Kelvin Wilson appearing after the break – Van Dijk stayed inside along with Watt – Celtic did pick up the pace.

Indeed, Balde showed his strength to bundle his way into the box before seeing his low shot cannon off the keeper. From the corner, Wilson – who passed up a terrific chance from a Mulgrew free-kick in stoppage time – had a header cleared off the line.

So, it was a disappointment to all involved with the Hoops camp when they went behind on 66 minutes, not least because the goal they conceded was so cheap.

Beram Kayal – who impressed in the holding midfield position – was adjudged to have used an arm to charge down a shot 20 yards out.

Despite the height in the Celtic wall, Kostiantyn Iaroshenko was able to lift the ball over it and evade Forster's clutches at the keeper's left-hand post.

The big Englishman was not happy to allow such an effort to beat him, especially as he had looked as sharp as anyone on the field to that point.

However, it is all part of the process of finding your edge in pre-season.

And, by the time 17-year-old Calum Waters, plus another couple of aspiring youngsters, Bahrudin Atajic and Paul George, had been introduced, it was clear the result did not matter as much as the benefit of the exercise in the eyes of Lennon. Players such as Fisher, Henderson, Kayal and Dylan McGeouch can all feel satisfied with their effort.

Likewise, Balde and Van Dijk will be happy to have got to know their new team-mates a bit better.

As for Mouyokolo? He won his fair share of headers, and that would certainly have impressed Lennon.

He could become a useful addition to the squad at very little outlay for the champions.

CELTIC: Forster; Fisher, Virgil, Mouyokolo, Mulgrew; Kayal, McGeouch, Henderson, Commons; Balde, Watt. Substitutes: Fasan, Hooper, Wilson, Waters, Atajic, Lustig, George.