Celtic will begin their quest for a fifth successive Scottish Premiership title with a home game against Ross County on Saturday 1 August.

The new season gets off to a hectic start with Celtic down to play six league games during the month of August.

Away trips to Partick Thistle and Kilmarnock follow the Ross County game before Ronny Deila’s team face Inverness, Dundee United and St Johnstone on the final three weekends of the month.

With the prospect of vital Champions League qualifiers also taking place, Deila is fully aware Celtic will have to start fast – unlike during his first season in Scotland.

The Norwegian has chosen a number of pre-season friendly games in Glasgow as he targets the best preparation possible to get the club back into the Champions League.

“Our aim is to qualify for the Champions League. That’s where a Club like Celtic should be and deserves to be, and that will be our focus when the players report back for training,” he told the Celtic website.

“This year our pre-season preparations will be mainly at home because we feel that will give us the best chance of being ready when the qualification games start.”

Deila feels that Celtic’s home form will dictate whether or not they can achieve their early-season goal and he reaffirmed the positivity that come along with a full house in Glasgow.

“The players work hard but the lift they get when Celtic Park is full is massive,” he added.