VIRGIL VAN DIJK today put Celtic on late alert in the Amsterdam ArenA.

The Hoops' Dutch defender wants the run of losing goals in the closing minutes of Champions League games brought to a halt when they face Ajax tonight.

In each of the three games Celtic have played in Group H, they have conceded in the final 15 minutes.

In Milan, they appeared well on course to take a well-earned point until a deflection off Emilio Izaguirre ended Fraser Forser's 82 minutes of resistance.

Suly Muntari popped up with Milan's second three minutes later to secure all three points.

Against Barcelona at Parkhead, it took until 15 minutes from the final whistle - by which point Scott Brown had been off for 15 minutes after being red-carded - for Cesc Fabregas to score the only goal of the game.

Even against Ajax, Forster's clean sheet was snatched away from him at the start of stoppage time when Lasse Schone grabbed a consolation goal for the Dutch side.

Again, Celtic were playing out the game a man down after Nir Biton had been shown a straight red.

Van Dijk is convinced these numerical disadvantages have been significant factors in the goals they have lost in the two matches at Celtic Park.

Which is why retaining discipline, nerve and focus will be the aim of everyone in the side selected by Neil Lennon.

The 22-year-old - who has only been sent off once in his career - is a perfect of example of a player who can keep his cool, and a veteran of the electric atmosphere in the Amsterdam ArenA.

He knows exactly what Celtic have to do and said: "I don't think we have a problem with fitness, or anything like at that, towards the end of games.

"In the last two Champions League matches, the goals we have lost have come late on, but after we have gone down to 10 men.

"And it is always difficult to play in the Champions League when your opponents have a man more than you.

"But we are very aware we must remain focused for the entire game, and try to keep 11 men on the park.

"Hopefully, we will then get the result we want."

Even if Celtic don't make it back-to-back victories over Ajax, to open up a five-point gap over the Dutch champions, Van Dijk is confident they will remain in a competitive position for the closing two matches in Group H as the fight for a last 16 place hots up.

He said: "If we don't get the result we want tonight - and I don't even want to think about that - then we will have to win the next match, against Milan at Parkhead then, hopefully, get a good result in the Nou Camp.

"But I believe we have a good chance of winning this game tonight.

"Of course, we don't underestimate any team in the Champions League and Ajax are a very good side.

"We have to be at the top of our game to get the three points, but that's what we aim to do."

Cheering him on in the Amsterdam ArenA will be the former Groningen player's own personal fan club.

Van Dijk explained: "There will be a lot of my family and friends there.

"I asked for about 20 or 25 tickets, but that couldn't happen.

"There will be enough people there for me, though."