Former Celtic keeper Pat Bonner has called on the Parkhead side to make an impact on the Europa League after failing to make the group stages of the UEFA Champions League for the second successive season.

The Hoops have been parachuted into Europe’s second tier competition and while it is with some reluctance that they take up their place, Bonner believes they need to use the competition to atone for the result against Malmo.

Domestically, a Treble will remain the ambition for the Parkhead side but Bonner believes that it is in Europe where they need to strive to salvage their reputation.

“A Treble would be a bonus for them and an improvement on last year,” he said. “But we also want to see a showing in the Europa League, also.

“That is the benchmark for Celtic - they have to do something in Europe.

“When Martin O’Neill was knocked out of the Champions League in 2003, they went on to the final of the UEFA Cup and everybody forgot about the Champions League.

“That’s where Celtic are judged and that’s where Ronny Deila will be judged.

“He has to do something this year. He can’t wait for another year to get everybody talking about how good the team is again.”

And the former keeper is unconvinced about the club’s policy of adopting a zonal marking system.

“I would prefer a mix of zonal and man marking and the guys who are not the main headers of the ball still have a job to do,” said Bonner. “You come up with a strategy and their way of doing it is zonal. It has worked in the past to a degree and they’ve gone with it in this European game but Malmo had their homework done.

“When you all people to get a run on you, even over only four or five yards, then you are going to be out-jumped and that’s what happened at both goals.”