If you want to measure where Celtic have been and where they are now, there is just one thing that you had to take note of during the 5-0 win over Astana; just how comfortable Celtic were in a game that is traditionally the most anxious of the season.

That was a performance from a team who have every faith in the manager, a manager who has every faith in his players and a support who have faith in their team.

These games are typically nervous affairs; in the last four years Celtic have gone through or gone out of the Champions League at this stage by the margin of a solitary goal, which underlines just how precarious a journey it tends to be.

Against Astana, even in the opening 25 minutes when I thought the visitors were marginally the better team, what really struck me was how calm everyone was.

That stemmed largely from the players who have shown an ability to play under pressure and remain calm, even when the stakes are considerable. They were able to keep possession, keep building patiently and by the time Astana were on their knees midway through the second period, they were able to ruthlessly finish them off.

In many ways these are games that we would normally be watching from behind our fingers but there was a sense of calm from everyone and Celtic will be able to head over there next week knowing that they have done their job in the first-leg.

I think you can still expect a professional performance from Celtic over there and I don’t think they will ease up too much, despite the fact they have such a commanding hold over the tie.

That is purely down to Brendan Rodgers and the work that has gone into this Celtic side over the last 12 months.

Like last season when we saw the charge towards the title stay on course long after it was mathematically impossible for anyone to catch Celtic, there will be a relentlessness again over in Kazahstan.

The difference, is, though that this is a game now without pressure.

And for that to have been established comes down to the confidence and assurance within this Celtic team. They can only go from strength to strength now and they will get better with playing against the best in the Champions League and also by getting a bit of money to go and add to the squad.

I would also have to say that I thought the atmosphere at Celtic Park on Wednesday night was exactly as it should have been. The Green brigade were back and got behind the team and that is the kind of atmosphere that we associate with the club on nights like that.

You’d never say never but it’s pretty fair to suggest that we’ll all expect to hear the Champions League theme blasting out to warm up Celtic Park in the cold months that lie ahead and it is impossible to underestimate just how important that is to the club.

It gives everyone a lift and maintains the tone that was set last season.

But what I think you can be sure of is that there will be one or two names up the sleeve of Rodgers that might now materialise that Celtic have the carrot of Champions League football to wave.

We all know that Patrick Roberts has been on the radar this summer with the club and the player keen to tie up a season-long loan deal for the England under-20 internationalist.

City now might feel that the player is given an ideal stage to go and develop on with guaranteed exposure to the elite level of the Champions League, while I also wonder now whether there might be thought given to another centre-half too.

I thought that Nir Bitton actually didn’t do much wrong on a night when he was up against a beast of a centre-forward but with Erik Sviatchenko and Dedryck Boyata out until mid-September and their injuries illustrating how light Celtic are in that area, then there might be a thought to bring in cover.

In any case, there is no question that getting into the Champions League definitely adds weight to Celtic as they look to do a bit of business in these final few weeks of the window.

Roberts would give everyone a massive boost simply because of the fact Celtic fans have spent the summer wishing his return.

Getting him in would be like bringing in a big signing because he is wanted by the Hoops support but also because we have all been able to see that he has that little bit of magic that can turn a game.

That is not to take anything away from James Forrest who I think have taken on a fair bit of responsibility these past few months but I think Roberts is a player who would not require time to gel.

He knows the club, he knows the players and he would be the perfect way for the window to close. Celtic have certainly done all that they can to get the winger back up to Glasgow but the ball is in City’s court now.