IT is not about how you start, it is about how you finish. Celtic could put that theory to the test in the coming days.

The first few weeks of the transfer window have been pleasing for Brendan Rodgers but now it is getting to the business end.

The arrivals of Jonny Hayes and Kundai Benyu bolstered the Celtic squad but didn’t significantly improve the starting line-up. In midfielder Olivier Ntcham, Rodgers looks to have secured the services of someone who will do just that.

But has the time now come for Celtic to speculate to accumulate to an even greater degree? Will Rodgers want to splash the cash?

Read more: Celtic success in Europe benefits whole of Scottish gameGlasgow Times: Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers

The Northern Irishman won’t take anything for granted against Astana tomorrow night but Celtic have made the trip to Kazakhstan with a Champions League spot in their luggage. The job is done before the second leg of the tie has even kicked off.

Supporters were still on cloud nine on Friday morning when SportTimes revealed that Patrick Roberts is set to return north of the border from Manchester City in the coming days.

That deal has been a long time coming but Rodgers will get his man and Roberts will get his wish after City granted him permission to sign on in Glasgow for a second time.

The only reason for bringing Roberts in once again is to play a part in Europe and the lure of six group stage games would surely have been key in City’s thinking.

Celtic don’t need the winger to win the Premiership, and the player would be better served by testing himself week in week out at a higher level if he has ambitions of forcing his way into Pep Guardiola’s squad in the future.

Read more: Celtic set to splash the cash on another striker but Erik Sviatchenko exit looms

But the chance to play in the Champions League changes the dynamic of the deal and the benefits for Celtic and Roberts are clear. Is it enough, though?

Is Roberts the difference between aiming for a third place finish in the groups and looking to get one of the two spots that would see Celtic qualify for the last 16 once again?

With the 20-year-old in their ranks last term, Celtic took just three points from 18 in their matches with City, Barcelona and Borussia Monchengladbach.

When the draw is made for the next phase of the competition this week, the Premiership champions would be unlucky if they landed two of the European heavyweights once again. If they do, then third place and a drop into the Europa League may be the best they can hope for.

But if they want to give themselves a real chance of progressing or make a statement of intent about their Europa League ambitions, Rodgers should be given some of the Euro bucks he has banked in the last twelve months.

He can’t be handed a blank chequebook and told to go and spend the lot but if Celtic want to take that next step in Europe then further investment and improvement is required.

If Rodgers’ side were to finish third, the Parkhead punters would surely fancy their chances of a prolonged run to the latter stages of the Europa League.

Read more: Celtic success in Europe benefits whole of Scottish game

While the money continues to swirl around the richest leagues and the richest clubs on the continent, it will be increasingly difficult for Celtic to make an impression in the Champions League.

Rodgers revealed earlier this year that he would be willing to break Celtic’s £6million transfer record this summer if the right player became available.

That would take Celtic into a different market and open up a wider range of potential recruits. Do deals at that level, and the team moves up a notch as well.

The squad that Rodgers has at his disposal is more than good enough to win a seventh-straight league crown. The addition of a handful of several million pound rated stars would make an undoubted difference to their European expectations, though.

It is one thing to bank the Champions League cash, but it is quite another to spend it.