ANDY WALKER reckons Celtic majority shareholder Dermot Desmond is 'taking the club seriously again' after installing Brendan Rodgers as manager during the summer.

The Hoops' unbeaten domestic start to the season has already earned them a Ladbrokes Premiership eight-point lead with three games in hand as well as the Betfred Cup trophy.

Much, if not all, of that success has been put down to the recruitment of Rodgers who has masterminded a dramatic turn in fortunes at Parkhead.

The Glasgow club looked uninspiring at times under predecessor Ronny Deila as crowds began to drift away, but Sky Sports pundit Walker praised Celtic chief Desmond for putting his money where it matters.

Read more: Tea and toast and home for 8.30...how Brendan Rodgers celebrated Celtic's League Cup win

He said: "The gap is really big. I think the Celtic supporters should enjoy this time because it won’t last forever.

"I’m sure Brendan will look at it as doing a couple of years in Scotland then getting back to the Premier League in England.

"If you talk about Celtic being Dermot Desmond, I am glad that he is taking his club seriously again. Because of a couple of years there, I think they took their eye off the ball and you saw that with the supporters drifting away.

"They have a serious manager in now who knows what he is doing. He is having a great effect on Tom Rogic and James Forrest.

Read more: Tea and toast and home for 8.30...how Brendan Rodgers celebrated Celtic's League Cup win

"The fans invest their money and this is a great time to be a Celtic supporter. My boys are going back to see Celtic because they are really enjoying their football on a weekly basis."

Walker concedes he found Celtic 'turgid' last season under the guidance of Deila.

Now, he has been inspired by what he has seen from the domestically rampant Hoops.

Many supporters are rubbing their hands together at the thought of a domestic treble, but former Celtic striker Walker has his sights set further afield.

"I think they will be thinking of it, but the biggest thing for me is the Champions League and for Celtic to be a more competitive team in Europe," he said.

"Ten in a row would be great for the Celtic fans and the historical significance.

"But for Celtic to be in the Champions League creates a level of cash that pushes them further and further away from Aberdeen, Rangers and the rest.

"That’s where I think Celtic really need to make their mark. But right now I can’t see anyone challenging them domestically.

Read more: Tea and toast and home for 8.30...how Brendan Rodgers celebrated Celtic's League Cup win

"The next big change for Celtic will when one of the English clubs comes in for Brendan, I’d imagine in a couple of years. By then, he will have racked up some trophies and had notable successes in the development of individuals. That is what will eventually take Brendan back.

"What do Celtic do then? Hopefully, they will still take the fans and the club seriously and invest in a really good manager again – and not go down the road of a couple of years ago."

Sky Sports will show the biggest head to heads over the festive season, including Manchester City v Chelsea this Saturday and the Old Firm derby on New Year’s Eve.