STUART Armstrong has acknowledged that the Celtic players feel obliged to accept a level of responsibility for the manner in which the club’s European campaign has panned out this season.

Celtic failed to make the group stages of the Uefa Champions League after spurning a 2-0 advantage early on in the first leg against Swedish side Malmo, and it has been a similarly inauspicious story in the Europa League where different opponents have queued up to exploit the same weaknesses.

The hiatus in the domestic calendar due to this weekend’s round of international fixtures means that Celtic have the opportunity this week to mull over a potential cure for their defensive malaise. Pinpointing where it has gone wrong is one thing, but fixing it is quite another.

The results from the European circuit have brought Ronny Deila’s future into sharp focus but Armstrong believes that the Celtic players have to be willing to shoulder their share of the blame.

“Of course we do,” said the midfielder. “We need to look at ourselves. The manager can set us up and prepare us all he can, but it is up to the players to go out there and perform. We haven’t and that is why we have found ourselves in this position.”

There is an unlikely route to redemption for Celtic, if they can take maximum points from their final two Group A games, against Ajax at Celtic Park and Fenerbahce in Istanbul.

While there is a willingness to publicly talk up the chance for qualification, the portents are not good: Celtic have notched up just two wins from their previous 12 outings in the Europa League.

Armstrong, however, has maintained that even in the face of some galling stats – 37 goals conceded in 24 games and not one win in this current group – Celtic retain their sense of optimism.

“We need to remain confident,” he said. “We have lost games but all we can do is look forward and hope to change things, especially results.

“I can understand the frustration of the supporters, of course I can. But as players, we are equally disappointed.  “We know that we can do much better than what we have shown so far in this Europa League campaign and we feel that we are better than the position we currently lie in at the foot of the table.

“It comes down to trying to work harder.

“It is important that we remain optimistic and upbeat. The next two games are huge for us, I think we can all appreciate that, but it is still within our hands to qualify out of the group and that is something that we have to focus on.  “We played well against Ajax when we played them in the opening game over in Amsterdam and we felt as though we should have beaten Fenerbahce when we had them here in Glasgow.”

WHILE much of the focus at Lennoxtown will be on trying to plot a way past Ajax and shore up that marshmallow backline, there will also be a look to the treatment room as the Hoops continue to rehabilitate Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew.  The Hoops skipper has been clocking up the miles on the treadmill as he runs his way back to fitness, while it is also hoped Mulgrew will be fit in time for the visit of the Dutch side.  With both Nir Bitton and Stefan Johansen out for the game, getting some key bodies back could be significant for Deila.  “We have a big squad and there are players who are versatile who can go in there,” said Armstrong.  “But I don’t think there is any doubt that we miss Scott’s leadership qualities when he is out.

“I think any team would miss Scott Brown because he has a drive and an energy about him that definitely infiltrates the dressing room.  “It would be a great boost if he were to be fit in time for the game here against Ajax because he brings so much to the team, and the same goes for Charlie.

“They are big players who have huge experience at this level of the game and know what it takes to get a positive result.”

Armstrong, meanwhile, has joined in the chorus of appreciation that has greeted the recent performances of 18-year-old prospect Kieran Tierney.

The youngster has been one of the few positives to come out of the Europa League campaign and the manner in which Tierney has looked assured – more so than some of his senior colleagues – at that level suggests that there will be plenty more sightings of him as the season progresses.

“For a young man you have to take your hat off to him,” said Armstrong.  “He has shown a great aptitude to come into the team and not just come in and play but come in and really catch the eye.  “He has been excellent and you have to applaud that spirit and ability, particularly given just how young he is.”