Celtic great Chris Sutton reckons Ange Postecoglou's message to the players as they gear up for their return to action is a simple one.

The Hoops lost 2-0 to St Mirren before the international break with a poor performance allowing the gap at the top of the Premiership to be narrowed to just two points.

Returning to action against Motherwell on Saturday (3pm) marks the start of 13 matches in 43 days including a League Cup quarter-final against the same opponents and four Champions League group-stage games.

Sutton says the Celts showed last season that they are up for a high-pressure run of games and it has actually made Postecoglou's message all the more simple: do it all again.

"Going to Motherwell for a last-eight tie means that it’s not just the title race and the Champions League that must hold attention," Sutton wrote in the Daily Record. 

"There are no margins for error at Celtic. As I said, St Mirren was excused because of what had gone before, but the next domestic slip won’t be glossed over so readily if it comes soon.

"Of course, this is what you want. These are the games that you want to be involved in and the situations you want to be part of. I loved them. High-pressure. Win and you’re flying, lose and there are consequences.

"The Celtic players showed last year that they could handle those high-stakes pressures and strains. Now they are back in the same place. And the message from the manager will be simple. Do it all again and set yourself up for more success."