Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers believes the team's bolstered attack can prevent another Champions League play-off letdown.
Last season, Celtic were eliminated at the same stage after a penalty shoot-out defeat by Kairat Almaty, following two goalless matches against the Kazakh champions.
However, the team is in high spirits ahead of Wednesday night’s first leg against Austrian champions LASK, having scored 10 goals across three victories at the start of the campaign.
New striker Kasper Hogh hit a hat-trick in the 5-1 league win at Kilmarnock, while Camilo Duran opened his account in Saturday’s 4-0 Premier Sports Cup victory over Dundee United. Haissem Hassan and Mika Baur also made their first appearances from the bench at Tannadice.
Carter-Vickers believes the new arrivals have lifted Martin O’Neill’s squad and given Celtic more of a cutting edge in front of goal. He said: "New signings do kind of give the group a bit of energy and a bit of momentum.
"Two of the players that have come so far have really hit the ground running, so that’s definitely a positive."
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He added: "I think we’ve signed good quality players. They’ve already shown what they can do and what they are capable of, so that’s helpful."
The US international admitted the champions must be sharper in the final third against LASK if they are to reach the league phase. He said: "These kinds of qualifying ties are always difficult games.
"You are generally playing champions from other countries, teams that know how to win. Last year, over two legs, we struggled to score and maybe create chances.
"That was probably our downfall."
Carter-Vickers is determined to see Celtic back among Europe’s elite. He added: "It’s a competition that we want to be in year in, year out."
