Winning ugly doesn't bother us Venn we're in such tight title race

Andreas Hinkel brought poise and aggression to Celtic's defence last weekend and the German international is determined to make himself a key player for the Hoops.

Gordon Strachan sold Hinkel on a move to Glasgow rather than a return to his homeland, and a significant part of the player's decision to head to Parkhead was his experience of playing there with Stuttgart in the Uefa Cup in 2003.

He was up against the team that eventually went all the way to the final in Seville and, although those faces are long gone, Hinkel was nevertheless eager to be part of the current regime.

"I was up against Alan Thompson when I played here for Stuttgart and I remember it well," he said. "Guys like John Hartson, Chris Sutton and Henrik Larsson were here and this was a great team.

"The faces are different now, but the club is the same and I am delighted to be part of it.

"The game that I played here with Stuttgart was pretty amazing because the stadium was full and you could feel the energy from the crowd.

"It was a bit different last Saturday when we played Stirling Albion in the Scottish Cup, but that is to be expected. We still had to go out and do our job and make sure that we won the game.

"I am really looking forward to the matchs against Rangers and then Barcelona in the Champions League because I think the stadium will be crazy.

"When it is like that I think Celtic will feel confident that they could beat anyone because there is a tremendous atmosphere that really lifts the players. Even when the Celtic supporters came to Stuttgart they seemed to be everywhere in the stadium.

"I don't know how they managed to get their hands on tickets, but even now some of the Stuttgart fans still remember it well. They gave their team incredible backing."

Hinkel put in an assured first-half performance last weekend before tiring in the second period and he has told the Celtic fans there is much more still to come from him.

Having had to be patient in their wait for an out-and-out right-back, the Celtic fans welcomed the German into the club and will be eager to see just what else he can bring to a defence that needs a little bit of steadying.

Hinkel added: "I will get better with every game and I am looking forward to getting properly settled into the team."

December was a woeful month for the Hoops. They dropped nine precious SPL points after draws with Hearts, St Mirren and Hibs, as well as losing to Inverness Caley.

Since then Gordon Strachan's side have rescued a bit of form with three consecutive wins and Vennegoor has been in Glasgow long enough to know Celtic can't afford another sticky patch.

Victories over Dundee United, Gretna and Stirling Albion have restored some confidence, but there has still been a bit of sparkle missing from Celtic's recent performances.

So long as the points are mounting up, however, the Dutch striker is prepared to settle for points over performance.

"We can't afford slip-ups," he stated. "We have to be focused. Sometimes we will play some nice football and other times we might get the result with what you call ugly football, but it is the points that count now.

"At Celtic, you always have to win and everyone is aware of that. Because it is so tight with Rangers four points clear at the top of the table, there is a bit of extra pressure because every single point counts.

"We have to play to our best to get the points, but it is when it's like this your priority is winning the game first and then playing good football. Points mean everything to us now."

For all that there is still more to come from a Celtic side who look short on inspiration at times, Vennegoor and fellow hitman Scott McDonald will take solace from the fact they have combined to net 29 goals between them this season, suggesting the little and large partnership is pretty effective.

The Parkhead side have scored more goals than any other SPL team this season - the problem has been keeping them out at the other end - but while in seasons past, midfielders have weighed in with a fair amount, only Aiden McGeady could really claim to be doing that at the minute.

The Republic of Ireland man has hit the back of the net seven times this season while Shunsuke Nakamura, who has missed a considerable chunk of the campaign because of a knee injury, has scored just four times.

It means that the onus has fallen heavily on McDonald and Vennegoor to keep Celtic on the goal trail, but the striker is happy to share the burden.

"I have scored 11 goals and, as a striker, you will always be judged by others on how many you score in a season," he said. "It is always nice to score goals. It doesn't matter who you score against or how you score them just as long as they go in."

He added: "But for me, that's maybe secondary because it's more important what you are doing for the team and for the players you are playing alongside.

"Scott is doing a really good job. It's his first season here and he has already scored 18 goals. For someone to come in here and do that when they are just new to the club and make themselves an important player says a lot.

"It is nice to play with him. He is small and quick and always looking to move around and I like playing alongside players like that.

"He is doing a terrific job and hopefully he can continue his form in the second part of the season.

"But just now we have had a few good consecutive games and it's important we go on a bit of a run and get as many points as we can. And it doesn't really matter who is scoring, just as long as the team are winning.

"There are a lot of games coming up over the next couple of months and hopefully this is the start of a good spell of form for us."

Andreas Hinkel has so far been the only new arrival during this window, but it's expected at least one other new face will join him in the Parkhead dressing room. Happy returns of Naka and Art

By Alison McConnell Celtic will approach the demands of the coming weeks from a position of strength with key players Shunsuke Nakamura and Artur Boruc back from injury.

Andreas Hinkel has also given Celtic some balance on the right side of defence, but Vennegoor of Hesselink has his fingers crossed there may be more few new faces arriving in the Celtic dressing room.

"We have Artur and Naka back from injury and that gave us a boost because it is always good to have experienced players back in the side," Vennegoor of Hesselink added.

"Andreas has also come in and I think it is the same at every club when a new player comes in, it just gives everyone a lift.

"There are a few players still to come back from injury and it's great to not only have a good, strong squad but also having lots of players around keeps everyone eager to do well because you know you are always fighting for your place."

While this time of the season always has players linked with moves in and out of the club, Vennegoor of Hesselink has no desire to quit Parkhead.

"I feel happy at the club," he smiled. "It's a privilege to play for this club because it is such a big club. It's difficult for people who aren't part of it to understand just how big Celtic are.

"My family are also happy and settled in Glasgow and I am enjoying my football."