STUART Armstrong has promised there will be no let-up from Celtic in 2017 as they pursue the fourth Treble in their 129-year history and attempt to go the entire domestic season undefeated.

The midfielder and his team-mates ended the first half of the 2016/17 campaign on a massive high by coming from behind to defeat Rangers 2-1 at Ibrox on Hogmanay.

The hard-fought triumph sent the Parkhead club, who have a game in hand, 19 points clear of their city rivals at the head of the Ladbrokes Premiership table.

Brendan Rodgers’ team haven’t been beaten in their first 24 domestic fixtures this term and have a realistic chance of going the season without losing a single game.

As he prepared to take a week off ahead of a warm-weather training stint in Dubai, Armstrong warned the Betfred Cup winners would be looking to redouble their efforts in the months ahead.

“I don’t think we ever get complacent, whether it be away to anyone in the league or at home or in the Champions League,” he said. “We approach each game in the same manner and I think that’s been shown in our performances and results.

“We’ve now got a chance to rest ourselves physically and mentally. We’ve obviously had a couple of injuries with Scotty [Sinclair] and Jamesy [Forrest], but now they’re back fit.

“We’ve got a full complement again. That’s very important and now it’s a very big push for the second half of the season when it comes.

“It’s never been our style to get ahead of ourselves, it’s one game at a time and I don’t see us preparing any differently.

“Now we’ve got a chance for a bit of a rest before we get back at it again. We can reflect slightly before going again. We have our own targets and goals and we stick to those.”

Moussa Dembele netted his fifth goal against Rangers of the season, and his 18th in total, in Celtic’s latest victory at the weekend and is sure to have increased the interest in him at clubs across Europe considerab-ly in the process.

Armstrong admitted there could be bids for the French striker and other Celtic players during the January transfer window as a result of their impress-ive displays, but is confident that won’t unsettle the squad. “Moussa shows his attributes in every game,” he said. “Of course, in the last league fixture [against Rangers] he got the hat-trick and then again on Saturday he comes up with a vital goal to get us back in the game and change the momentum. He is a very good player to have up top for us.

“I think good performances by individuals always attracts interest and attention. But as players that’s not our focus, our focus is on the games.

“What a great result we’ve had over Rangers and we’re now looking forward to a bit of rest which has so far eluded us.”

Armstrong, meanwhile, has paid a glowing tribute to Celtic manager Rodgers for the success which both the Parkhead club and he personally have enjoyed during the first half of the season.

THE 24-year-old, who set up Scott Sinclair for the winner on Saturday, struggled to establish himself at Celtic after signing from Dundee United two years ago.

However, the arrival of the former Watford, Reading, Swansea and Liverpool manager, and a move to his favoured position in central midfield, has brought out the best in the Inverness-born player. “I have nothing but praise for him because he has revived me at Celtic,” said Armstrong. “Not only me, but the team.

“We always know he has a plan to change a game if it’s not going the way we want, he’s always got a plan B.

“He is always thinking how we can improve and we very much believe in him and he very much believes in us.

“It’s a really good team and Saturday was an important game for us in a very busy December. It was vital we keep on pushing right to the end and it was a good win. A lot of players in the dressing room have a lot to thank the manager for – the way we have developed under him, and I can speak from personal experience for the way my Celtic career is going now.

“He revived it no end and gave me something to work for and let me play in my favourite position.

“He has done that with a number of other players and we look like a completely different team to what we did last year. Full credit goes to him for that.”

Armstrong was named in the full Scotland squad twice in 2015 and is hopeful his improved form for Celtic this season will result in a recall when the national team resume their Russia 2018 qualifying campaign against Slovenia at Hampden in March.

“It’s always an ambition for any player to play on the international stage and, of course, I want to play for my country,” he said.

“What a great honour that would be. But my focus is on playing here and the rest comes from that.”