Nir Bitton has offered tentative assurances that he will maintain his make-shift role at the heart of the Celtic’s defence should the need arise in the group stages of the Champions League.

The Israeli defender has been deployed as an emergency centre-back in the absence of the injured duo of Erik Sviatchenko and Dedryck Boyata, a move that was described in some quarters as a gamble ahead of the conclusive play-off tie against Astana.

Turns out that Brendan Rodgers called it right and it remains to be seen if there is another defender added to the ranks before the group stages kick off next month.

Boyata is currently ahead of schedule as he steps up his rehab from a knee injury sustained in pre-season but it will take him some time to work his way back to full match fitness.

“I am just trying to do my best every game I play,” said Bitton. “It is quite a new role for me, but as soon as the gaffer gives me the shout to play I will do my best.

“As I said, it is not about me. It is about Celtic as a team. When we defend well, everyone looks better.

“When the gaffer believes in you and gives you the confidence then you want to show him that you deserve it.

“I got that confidence from him in the last few weeks and I am happy that we could keep a clean sheet and take a good result away from home and into next Tuesday.”

Bitton was composed against an Astana who were ultimately toothless against Celtic on Wednesday evening but he admitted that while he might have looked unflappable, there was a little more anxiety underneath the surface.

“Maybe I didn’t show any nerves to the fans, but there was a little bit,” he said. “These kind of matches are always nervy games. They are pressure games and you need to be at your best.

“I am just happy that we had a good game collectively. As I said, this was an amazing result and hopefully we can now be part of the Champions League this season.

“You try to adapt yourself. Of course, Jozo [Simunovic] Mikael [Lustig] and KT are trying to talk with me all the time because it is quite a new role for me.”

Celtic return to Astana on Tuesday night knowing that barring an unmitigated collapse the tie is over. Given that this is a Celtic side who are yet to concede a goal in the five qualification games that they have played to date, such thoughts are entirely of a fantasy nature.

They will coast their way to the group stages although Bitton was understandable reluctant to admit so publicly.

“It is too early,” he said. “First, we need to go to the Champions League. Secondly, if we get there we need to see the draw.

“But we have talked before that one of things we want to achieve this season is to go to the Champions League. As soon as we get there then we need to take part and we want to go as far as we can.

“Just now, though, it is still too early. We need to go to Kazakhstan and play our best. Then we will see.

“I think everyone saw who was the better team in the first leg and 5-0 should be enough for us. The most important thing was to keep a clean sheet. Now we will try and get an away goal to finish this tie off.”

Celtic boasted match winners against Astana with the difference between the teams coming in the manner in which the Parkhead side carried particular menace in the final third.

Leigh Griffiths was excellent, Scott Sinclair looked like the player of last season while James Forrest and Olivier Ntcham also shone.

“I think Griff had an amazing game,” enthused Bitton. “Sincy got two goals and Jamesy was great too. It starts from the top. When you press them well and take the energy out of the other team then you get a reward for that.

“I’m really happy that we managed to score five goals and kept a clean sheet. After the third goal we took control of the game. We pressed them well second half, took the possession and took them out of the game.”

And Bitton, too, accepts that there has been a considerable maturation within the Hoops team since the arrival of Rodgers.

“I’ve said before that we are much better team now,” he said. “I won’t say much better individuals, but we are a much better team. We understand more what the gaffer wants from us, his philosophy and everything he is trying to do.”