Kris Commons is backing Celtic's young Bhoys to come of age on the European stage this season.

The Parkhead midfielder was convinced Ronny Deila's Hoops had nailed three crucial Europa League points when he gave them a two-goal lead against Fenerbahce earlier this month.

But the football fates turned quickly - and wickedly - against Celtic when the Turks struck twice to level the tie at Parkhead.

Celtic's backline on the night included Euro greenhorns Kieran Tierney, Tyler Blackett and Dedryck Boyata - average age 21.

And it was the kind of hammer blow that can easily sap the morale of a new generation of players experiencing continental football for the first time.

Commons, though, has seen it all, and is in no doubt that the experience will toughen the resolve of those players for the challenges that still lie ahead in Group A as Molde loom into view on October 22.

He said: "We've still got a very young team with Kieran making his Europa debut against Fenerbahce.

"So for him to play against that sort of opposition and still do extremely well is a credit to him.

"Dedryck Boyata is young, Tyler Blackett is young so we've got a young back four that's not played a lot of foot ball together.

"The more games you play, though, the more confident you are and if you play against that sort of opposition and you play well, then that gives you the foundation and the belief that you do belong there.

"You can walk about with your chest out as you're not only a Celtic player, but a Celtic player playing in Europe."

Molde have emerged as the surprise package in Celtic's group. Victory over Ajax served notice that they would defy any suggestion of being Euro lightweights.

And they followed that up with a 1-1 draw against the Turks.

Reason enough for Commons to put Celtic on red alert when the sides clash in Sweden in just over two week's time in the first of back-to-back clashes which will probably define Celtic's European hopes for this season.

He told The Celtic View: "The games against Molde will obviously be pivotal as to whether we can progress from this group.

"If we can pick up points away from home then that would be a a huge plus and I fancy us against anyone at home.

"I think we are playing well at the moment, but there is plenty of competition for places with the lads on the bench all itching to play.

"Earlier on in the season, and especially towards the end of last season, Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong were the preferred guys, so they're itching to get back on and that keeps me and James Forrest on our toes.

"We've got to keep performing, we've got to keep scoring goals and if we can do that it's going to be difficult to drop us."