EOGHAN O'Connell says it is important Celtic Under-20s brush off the blues of their UEFA Youth League loss to Barcelona with three points against Inverness Caley Thistle today.

The young Hoops' clash with the Highlanders is their final match before the winter break and the defender is determined to end the first half of the season on a high note.

"We need a win, because if we were to beat Inverness it would put everyone a high again before we go home for Christmas," he said.

"We can then make a big push for the second half of the season. But we're definitely looking to get a win against Inverness and finish the first part of the season on a high."

Although disappointed at ending their European adventure, the Irish teenager says he and his team-mates have now turned their attentions to retaining the league title for the fifth successive season.

"The cup run came to an end which was very disappointing," he said. "But we have the league to look forward to now, and that is the only thing on everyone's mind - doing the best we can, winning as many games as we can to try and wrap up the league, and develop as a team and as players individually.

"A lot of teams in the 20s' league are very hard to beat and are decent sides so it is a tough league to play in.

"They all want to beat Celtic, but if we can just put our plans into practice - and be prepared like we were for the European games - we should be all right."